Lagula, Geron rule Shell N Luzon chess

MANILA, Philippines - FEU’s McDominique Lagula downed Ali Guya in a duel of unbeaten players in the sixth round then racked up two more points in the last three rounds to emerge solo champion in the Shell National Youth Active Chess Championships – Northern Luzon leg at Brickstone Mall in Tuguegarao City last Sunday.

Not even a final round setback to Mark Asejo could slow down Lagula, who built enough cushion after beating Guya, Paul Geron and Gil Ruaya. He wound up with eight points and topped the 9-round boys’ juniors division of the two-day event sponsored by Pilipinas Shell.

Guya bounced back from a loss to Lagula with victories over Charles Abuzo and Janleigh Aguete and a draw with James Dacanay to end up solo second with 7 1/2 points and join Lagula in the national finals in September. Asejo and Abuzo shared third place with seven points.

Local bet Crizelle Geron, playing out of National U, won her last three games, including a final round victory over erstwhile solo leader Michelle Yaon, to pool six points then nipped Highzzy Manaloto in the tiebreak to bag the girls’ juniors crown for the second straight time and gain the lone slot in the national finals.

Manaloto also beat Yaon in the sixth round but was held to a draw by Virgenie Ruaya in the final round to settle for second while Joribene Bonifacio took solo third with 5 1/2 points.

Jackie Ampil and Toby Nebrida, social investment manager and media relations manager of Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp., respectively, handed over the prizes and trophies to the winners during the awards rites graced by Pilipinas Shell retail territorial manager Paulo Bernardo and Leonides Fausto Jr., provincial sports coordinator of the province of Cagayan.

Natalie Kyle Abuzo swept her last three matches to score 6 ? points then nipped Jill Alcaraz, who also won her last three games, in the tiebreak to capture the girls’ kiddies crown and a berth in the grand finals.

Erstwhile leader Martina Casiano dropped her fifth and sixth round matches and slid to joint fourth with three others with five points, half-a-point behind third placer Marie Obedoza in the seven round tournament sponsored by Shell FuelSave Unleaded & Diesel, Shell V-Power Nitro+, Shell Helix Motor Oils, Shell Advance Motorcycle Oils, Shell FuelOil Plus and held in partnership with SM Supermalls, Rudy Project, Our Home, Unilab and Brickstone Mall.

Juan Carlos Presente of San Jose Academy of Bulacan outwitted Carl Caldellon in a duel of undefeated players in the sixth round then scored two points in the last three rounds to emerge solo champion with eight points in the boys’ kiddies side.

Istraelito Rilloraza posted two points in the last four rounds to finish with 7 ? points then edged Valdellon in the tiebreak to snatch runner-up honors and the other slot in the grand finals.

Meanwhile, the third stage of the circuit, marking its 20th year as the country’s breeding ground of chess talents, will be held July 28-29 for the Southern Luzon leg at SM Batangas Event Center. For details, contact Joselito Castro at (043) 7232568 or (043) 7234246, or Alex Dinoy at 0922-8288510 or (02) 4003248.