Batucan brothers pace Davao chess

MANILA, Philippines - No. 9 John Ray Batucan stunned top seed Sheider Nebato in the fourth round to join two others in the juniors division lead with four points in the Shell National Youth Active Chess Championships Mindanao leg at SM Davao Activity Center in Davao City last Saturday.

Batucan, playing out of Doña Carmen Denia National High, toppled Vincent dela Rosa, Raymondwill Mirantes and Michael Gastala before upending Nebato to tie brother Neptali and fifth seed Aglipay Oberio of La Salle at the helm halfway through the eight-round Swiss system tournament in the 20-and-under division.

The seventh-ranked Neptali, from Holy Cross of Davao College, beat Jonathan Dapar Jr., Angelo Jangayo, Mark Dotillos and John Aunso, while Oberio disposed of Renzon Cortez, Christian Jacobe, Keith Ibaoc and Danilo Engay Jr. to fuel their bid for top honors in the event sponsored by Pilipinas Shell and sanctioned by the National Chess Federation of the Phils.

Three players – second seed Jerwell Andoy, No. 4 Clark Añabieza and No. 11 Kline Surposa – lurked behind with 3.5 points while 22 others, including Nebato, stayed in the hunt with three points, ensuring a wide-open battle in the centerpiece event which stakes two berths in the national finals.

Earlier, Mark Gayon, Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. retail manager for Mindanao, and councilor and SK Federation president Jashera Gonzales made

the ceremonial moves to kick off the two-day event sponsored by Pilipinas Shell for the 19th year. Other guests were DepEd’s Dr. Chanette Cadiente, Sankie Simbulan, Pilipinas Shell Business and Corporate Communications manager, Ronald Suarez, Pilipinas Shell Sustainable Development manager, and David Plaza, LPG Field Base account manager.

Sixth seed Cristy Ngo of Crossing Bayabas National High, and No. 16 Rose Aldovino of Bukidnon State U, Malaybalay City, also swept their first four matches to share the lead in the juniors’ girls side with top seed Rowelyn Acedo and No. 14 Exiquila Apao just behind with identical 3.5 points.

Top seed Kenneth Honculada and No. 2 Jacob Literatus played true to form and hurdled their first four games to force a six-way logjam in the boys’ kiddies category of the event backed by Shell V-Power, Shellane and Shell Helix in partnership with SM Supermalls and Rudy Project. Twenty-three others, including No. 7 Troy Ibaoc and No. 9 Alberto Diolola Jr., posted similar three points.

No. 1 Dhona Yngayo, third seed Ella Moulic and No. 4 Grace Tabudlong showed the way in the girls’ kiddies division with four points, one point ahead of 11 others, including second seed Joerlz Gimony.