Oncita stuns top chessers, shares lead

MANILA, Philippines – San Beda’s Philip Oncita pulled off a shock fourth round reversal over fancied Dale Bernardo to force a four-way tie for the junioirs lead halfway through the NCR leg of the 24th Shell National Youth Active Chess Championships at SM Megamall Event Center in Mandaluyong over the weekend.

The 13th-ranked Oncita toppled Charles Lim, John Pascual and Phileo Pagala in the first three rounds then surprised the top-seeded Bernardo from FEU in the fourth with the black and  hurdled Noel Geronimo to stay unbeaten after five rounds of the nine-round Swiss system tournament kicking off the five-leg nationwide elims of the annual circuit sponsored by Pilipinas Shell.

Oncita’s hot start put him in the lead with second seed Julius Gonzales of La Salle-Greenhills Gen. Pio del Pilar’s No. 7 Jester Sistoza, and No. 14 Jamaica Marie Lagrio of UE, half-a-point ahead of long shot Alexis Suede of RMCHS with 18 others a full point adrift, including Bernardo and No. 3 Istraelito Rilloraza.

Gonzales trounced Lionel Padulaga, Philip De Leon, Mae Samarita, Khalil Kis-ing and Melito Ocsan; Sistoza downed Alekhine Refuerzo, Darlyn Villanueva, Erick Valdez, Daniel Lopez and Francis Parro; while Lagrio set in motion her bid for top honors in the girls’ 13-16 side by besting Joy Ballobar, Gabriel Chua, Christian Hernandez, Rilloraza and Lee Palma.

Earlier, Melanie Bularan, social performance and social investment manager of Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp., and GM-elect Ronald Dableo, a Shell Active Chess alumnus, made the ceremonial moves kicking off the annual five-leg circuit culminating in the national finals in October.

Meanwhile, three paced the kiddies side while second seed Kyz Llantada of Arellano U seized the solo lead in the seniors division  of the two-day tournament which selects the top three players in the three divisions and the top lady finisher for berths in the grand finals in October.

Second seed Mark Bacojo, No. 3 Justine Mordido and fourth-ranked Jerome Aragones swept their first five games to post a half-point lead over top seed Daniel Quizon in the 7-12 category.