Buslig leads winners in Shell Active Chess leg

MANILA, Philippines - Second seed Lionel Buslig picked up three straight wins to lead seven others with perfect scores after three rounds of the Shell National Youth Active Chess Championships Northern Luzon elims at the Paseo Reale’s function room in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan over the weekend. 

Buslig trampled Harold Dumantay, Irene Calumag and Christopher Apostol to tow the big field in the junior division that included five of the top 10 ranked players heading into the last four rounds of the seven-round Swiss system tournament.

Other three pointers were No. 4 Far Eastern University’s John Morazo, No. 6 Jake Tumaliuan of Cagayan State University, No. 7 Marfred Sanchez, eighth-ranked Joan Furigay of Cagayan State University, No. 9. Leonardo Abalos of University of Baguio, unfancied Angropherbal Anggaboy of Cagayan State University and longshot Edmund Ursulum Jr.

Morazo trounced Rona Escalo, Cristian Cabarag and Emerson Aquino, while Tumaliuan stamped his class over Roterson Guzman, Jenerwin Cadaba and Vincent Banan.

Top seed Jan Galan of De La Salle Greenhills was held to a second round draw by Lazarino Busiley but remained in the hunt for the title with 2.5 points in a tie with six others in the 20-under division of the tournament sponsored by Pilipinas Shell under its Shell Active Chess program, which supports the empowerment of the youth as part of the company’s overall Sustainable Development commitment.

Gracing the opener of the two-day event, the nation’s longest running, grassroots-based chess tournament, were Carlo Paulo Plaza, retail territory manager of Shell Phils. Exploration, B.V., and Tuguegarao City administrator Mike Lim, who made the ceremonial moves, and Dept. of Education’s Dr. Joselito Narag.

The fancied bets, meanwhile, showed the way in the kiddies category, which drew 230 players, with Far Eastern University’s McDominique Lagula leading the top six-ranked players with three points. They include second seed Liza Agustin of Cagayan National High School, No. 3 Far Eastern University’s Vince Medina, No. 4 Dave Dulay,No. 5 Jon Bitamor and No. 6 Alder Jallorina.

Lagula swept into the lead with victories over Marie dela Cruz, Jezter Enaman and Kaye Legaspi while Agustin outplayed Kurt Garo, Bryan Ferrer and Derrick Manglallan.

Medina matched the top two seeds’ early romp by defeating Prince Garo, Angelica Erro and Kianjao Macapagal.

Twenty others swept their first three games while five tote 2.5 points, ensuring a wide open battle for top honors in the 14-and-under class of the event, the second leg of a seven-stage nationwide circuit designed to discover talents from the countryside and the same time boost the development and popularity of the sport.