MANILA, Philippines - Second seed Aglipay Oberio drew with No. 1 Kevin Arquero in the seventh round then swept his last two matches to emerge solo champion in the juniors division while Istraelito Rilloraza dominated the kiddies side in the 22nd Shell National Youth Active Chess Championships’ Northern Luzon leg at the University of Saint Louis in Tuguegarao City last Sunday.
Tied with Ricardo Batcho, Virgen Gil Ruaya and Arquero after six rounds at 5.5 points, Oberio settled for a draw with Arquero then whipped fellow La Sallian Mira Mirano and Ruaya to finish with eight points and pocket the crown in the 20-and-under class.
Arquero, of City University of Pasay, defeated third seed Batcho in the eighth then halved the point with Brylle Vinluan to finish with 7.5 points then nipped Batcho and Vinluan in the tiebreak to clinch second place and the other berth in the national finals set next month at SM Megamall.
Roberto Kanapi, Shell vice president for Communications, Shell Retail Territory manager Carlo Dizon and Shell Operations specialist Jhomar Getizo were on hand to award the prizes to the winners of the final regional elims of the event backed by Shell FuelSave Unleaded and Diesel, Shell Fuel Oils, Shell V Power Nitro and Shell Rimula, as well as by Unilever and SM Supermalls and sanctioned by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines.
Virgenie Ruaya of Univ. of the East bowed to Rowelyn Joy Acedo in the seventh round but trounced Mark Barrera and Mark Danao in the last two rounds to emerge the top female player with seven points as Acedo dropped her last two matches to Vinluan and Batcho and ended up with six points.
Rilloraza, playing out of Far Eastern U, flashed top form to beat Eric Labog Jr. in the seventh then trampled Kyd Mendoz and second seed Darry Bernardo to complete his sweep of the nine-round event sponsored by Pilipinas Shell.
Tapia, of Adamson U, beat Bernardo and Krizza Mae Biggayan then drew with Emanuel Van Paler in the final round to finish with 7.5 points. He nipped Labog and Paler in the tiebreak to clinch the other berth in the grand finals set Oct. 11-12.
Mhage Gerriahlou Sebastian of Binsang Elem. School, Ilocos Norte, downed Karylle Villanueva, lost to Labog but drew with Francis Reyes in the last three rounds to pool 6.5 points and edge erstwhile leader Biggayan in the tiebreak to gain the top female honors.
This year’s staging of the SNYACC also coincides with the energy and gas technology’s centennial anniversary in the country. The program is one of Shell’s enduring social investment initiatives for youth development, alongside other programs. .focusing on education, road safety, community development and health, enterprise development, and biodiversity and environmental conservation.