Literatus, Palero cop Shell chess

MANILA, Philippines - Top seed Austin Jacob Literatus bounced back from a fifth round loss with a sweep of the last four games while Mary Israel Palero dominated her side to capture the juniors crowns in the 2012 Shell National Youth Active Chess Championship Mindanao leg at SM Davao Activity Center in Davao City.

Literatus, of Dona Carmen National High, rebounded from a setback to John Batucan by outplaying Adrian Llanos and Jimzon Trangia and stopping erstwhile unbeaten Jon Lesaca with the black in the eighth round. He then disposed of Kenneth Tabada to emerge solo champion with eight points in the nine-round Swiss system tournament sponsored by Pilipinas Shell.

Unfancied Junmark Baldesimo scored three points in the last four rounds to finish second with 7.5 points and clinch the other berth in the national finals.

Meanwhile, Palero, of Holy Cross of Davao College, beat erstwhile co-leader Exiquila Apao in the fifth round then trounced Jane Lagang and Kathleen Meniano to complete a sweep of the seven-round girls’ side and bag the lone seat in the grand finals of the nationwide talent-search sanctioned by NCFP.

On hand during awards rites were Pilipinas Shell’s internal communications manager Ronald Jabal, district manager for Vismin Mark Gayon, social investment manager Jackie Ampil and media relations manager Toby Nebrida.

Apao settled for second with six points while Angel Davao and Rose Aldovino ended up tied for third with 5.5 points.

Top seed Rhenzy Kyle Sevillano of Cebu City played true to form and swept the boys’ kiddies field, capping his 9-point romp with victories over Kenneth Honculada, Alberto Diolola Jr., Gino Asuncion and Aldin Ranario to join the other leg winners in the national finals.

Honculada won his last two matches to finish with seven points then nipped Diolola, John Balbona and Raymart Silao in the tiebreak to snatch the other slot in the grand finals.

Second seed Ezra Ocliasa of Mayor Luis Rabat Memorial School-Mati City scored 2.5 points in the last three rounds, including a final round win over Kristense Banguiran to top the girls’ kiddies category with 6.5 points, one point ahead of Ella Moulic and Joerlz Gimony, to book the lone berth in the national finals of the event backed 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.