MANILA, Philippines - Sixth ranked Melwyn Kenneth Baltazar put on a strong finish and racked up three wins and one draw to capture the juniors crown while Dale Bernardo nipped Julius Gonzales in the tiebreak for the kiddies plum in the Shell National Youth Active Chess Championship National Capital Region Leg at SM Megamall’s Event Center last Sunday.
Baltazar, a mainstay of Letran, crushed Mario Abragon, Kevin Arquero and McDominique Lagula and split the point with La Salle’s Jan Nigel Galan in the eighth round then upended top seed Prince Mark Aquino with the black in the final round to finish with eight points and clinch the title in the 20-and-under section of the event which kicked off the six-leg nationwide talent-search sponsored for the 22nd year by Pilipinas Shell.
He beat Carlo Caranyagan by half-a-point as the latter also scored 3.5 points in the last four rounds to pool 7.5 points, edging fellow Arellano stalwart Kyz Llantada for runner-up honors and the other berth in the grand finals.
Galan, Jerich Cajeras, San Beda’s Brent Alanan, Eliseo Budoso of UE and erstwhile joint leader Aglipay Oberio finished tied for fourth with seven points.
Gladys Hazel Romero of FEU emerged the top girls’ performer and clinched a spot in the grand finals with 6.5 points.
GM Eugene Torre delivered an inspirational message during awards rites graced by Pilipinas Shell Social Investment manager Jackie Ampil and Marketing Implementer for Shell Lubricants Mille De Luna.