Morazo stuns Mirano in Shell Naga chess

MANILA, Philippines - Fifth ranked John Ranel Morazo surprised top seed Kevin Mirano in the fourth round to force a four-way tie for the lead in the junior division of the Naga leg of the Shell National Youth Active Chess Championships at SM City Naga event center over the weekend.

Morazo gained momentum from his victories over Viswanathan Llavanes, Cheyzer Mendoza and Mico Chica as he outwitted Mirano with the black pieces to catch second seed and fellow FEU bet Sheider Nebato, No. 8 Gerard Ferriol and ninth ranked Giovannie Romero of Mabini Jr College at the helm of the 20-and-under category with three rounds left in the Swiss system tournament sponsored by Pilipinas Shell.

Romero posted the day’s other big upset as he upended third seed Daniel Pesimo, also in the fourth round, while Nebato trounced Ariel Grondiano, Jomie de Mesa, Glenn Arganoza and Arvin Dableo. Ferriol stayed on course with victories over Ryan Mendoza, Rose Agapito, Roel Sayno and Antonio Chavez Jr. Sixth seed Randolf Dalauta, Daniel Collantes of Univ. of Nueva Caceres and Ateneo de Naga’s Christiano Serrano remained in the hunt with 3.5 points while 18 others pooled three points, led by Mirano and Pesimo.

Earlier, Naga City Mayor Jesse Robredo and Pilipinas Shell Foundation Inc. program manager Ma. Pamela Castro made the ceremonial moves to kick off the last of two Southern Luzon legs of the Pilipinas Shell’s active chess program, which supports the empowerment of the youth as part of the company’s overall sustainable development commitment. Chito Maniago, sustainable development manager of Shell companies in the Philippines, also graced the opener of the event sanctioned by the National Chess Federation of the Phils. and backed by Shell Fuels, Shellane, Shell Helix, and McDonald’s, in partnership with SM Supermalls and Paseo Reale Cagayan.

A wide-open battle for top honors loomed in the kiddies category with 19 players racking up four points halfway through, led by the top two seeds in Patrick Dulay of Ilocos Nat’l HS and Paul Evangelista along with sixth ranked Michael Angelo Manansala II of the First Asia Inst. of Tech.