 Registration is now ongoing with the field limited to the first 500 entries with a fee pegged at Php 50 on a first-come, first-served basis. To join, log on to www.shell.com.ph. You may also register at selected schools, chess clubs and municipal/provincial government offices and at various Shellane Showrooms nationwide. For more details, contact leg coordinators Joselito Castro at (043) 723-2568 and (043) 723-4246, or Alex Dinoy at 0922-8288510 and 0916-6882682.
As in all the legs of the nationwide chess talent search, competition is expected to be tight in the 14-and-under and 20-and-under age group categories with the top three finishers in both divisions advancing to the national finals slated in October 2009 in Manila.This year's event, the nation's longest running, grassroots-based chess tournament, will be a seven-leg series, played under the seven round Swiss system format, and slated over key cities in the country.
Naga City will stage the other Southern Luzon qualifier on August 1-2 at SM City Naga event's center.
The fifth leg will be held in Cebu on August 15-16 for the Central Visayas elims, while Iloilo will hold the Western Visayas elims on August 29-30. The talent-search circuit winds up on September 19-20 for the Mindanao leg in Davao.
Meanwhile, the Davao regional leg will offer four berths in both the Kiddies and Juniors divisions owing to the big number of participants joining the event each year.
Backed by Shell Fuels, Shellane, Shell Helix, and McDonald’s, in partnership with SM Supermalls and Paseo Reale – Cagayan, the Shell Active Chess circuit kicked off last month with the NCR elims at SM Mall of Asia and the Northern Luzon qualifier in Tuguegarao two weeks ago. Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation sponsors the annual Shell Active Chess championships in support of the youth, as part of the company’s overall Sustainable Development commitment.
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