USJ-R bets lead romp in Shell active chess

CEBU — Top seed Kim Steven Yap and No. 2 Jose Roble Jr. of University of San Jose-Recoletos eased through with emphatic victories over their respective rivals to pace the Shell National Youth Active Chess Championships-Visayas leg after three rounds of the junior division at the Sacred Heart School-Jesuits School here Saturday.

After posting two quick victories early in the day, Yap trounced Marjun Cruz while Roble downed Walter Arcenal in the third round to lead 24 others with perfect scores heading into the last four rounds of the seven-round Swiss system event serving as the region‚s qualifier for the grand finals slated Aug. 27-29 in Manila.

Joining them at the helm are the other fancied bets in the 20-under class, including Ryan Robillos, Armecito Lumbab, Therese Gonzales, Jimson Bitoon, Kevin Yap, James Uy and Ellan Asuela, who all cruised to easy wins to step up their respective bids for the top four berths staked in the tournament sponsored by Pilipinas Shell.

Robillos beat Jumson Bandalian; Lumbab outplayed Joven Bayutas; Gonzales whipped Mark Babiera; Bitoon tripped Carlyn Benabente; Yap prevailed over Carlo Bongcac; Uy thumped Bonifacio Degamo; and Asuela clipped Mark Arong.

Earlier, Dennis Brua, domestic sales LPG manager for southern islands, Dr. Vivian Ginete of DepEd-Region VII, and Fr. Ernesto Javier, director of the Sacred Heart School-Jesuits, graced the opening of the two-day event backed by Shell Better Mileage Gasolines, Shellane, Rimula, Shell Advance, Shell X100, Helix and Pepeng Pasada. Other guests were Paolo Sillona, retail territory manager for Metro Cebu, Bons Bonnila, consumer lubricants accounts manager, and Aileen Duran of Pilipinas Shell communications department.

Two top bets in the kiddies category, however, were stalled by draws in the third round as unranked Cy Balbanera and 10th seed Nathan Sarigumba halved the point with top seed Yves Fiel and RP boys‚ 10-under champion Christian Flores, respectively.

That enabled second seed Yuri Cauba to take charge in the 14-under division as he beat John Balbona to notch his third point, the same output put in by 26 others players, including Michael Pagaran, Bryan Vano, Jedara Docena, Ma. Theresa Letigio, Krystelle Capidos and Michelle Sagario.

Pagaran won over Jess Bayutas; Vano beat Mheluic Bensi; Docena outplayed Deneb Cavada; Letigo prevailed over Alvin Sabiquil; Capidos downed Brian Tan; and Sagario outwitted Julius Tunacao.