Shell active chess South Luzon leg unfolds

MANILA, Philippines - The 2015 Shell National Active Chess Championship winds up its five-leg regional eliminations with the staging of the Southern Luzon leg slated today and tomorrow with a full-packed field expected to vie for top honors in three divisions at SM City Batangas.

Organizers have set a maximum number of 300 participants on a first-come, first-served basis with the final qualifier tipped to draw a record field with competitions set in kiddies (7-12 years old), juniors (13-16) and seniors (17-20).

Batangas has long been a spawning ground of chess talents, making it a regular stop of the country’s longest, biggest talent-search serving as part of Shell’s continuing program of youth empowerment.

The holding of the three-division tournament for the first time has also given all young players a chance to showcase their talents and vie for berths in the national finals of the event sanctioned by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines.

The top two players in each group plus the best female players will advance to the national finals set Sept. 19-20 at SM Megamall.

Other backers of the country’s longest-running chess circuit are Shell FuelSave, Shell V-Power Nitro+, Shell Helix Oil Change Plus, Shell Citi Visa, Shell Pepeng Pasada, Shell FuelOil Plus, Shell Advance Ultra, Unilever and SM Supermalls.