Morala, Belano hold ground

CEBU, Philippines - Cebuana players Keith Claire Carlisle Morala and Kristina Concepcion Belano hold their grounds against a tough field of opposition to stay unbeaten after two rounds of action in the 2017 National Age-Group Chess Championships (NAGCC) Grand Finals yesterday at the Robinsons Galleria Cebu atrium.

Morala, a varsity at University of San Carlos, racked up back-to-back wins against Nicole Kimberly Chu and Sharisse Joy Gomez to set the early pace in the girls 20-under category with  Mira Mirano and Venice Vicente, who dropped the biggest stunner of the day after slaying Women's FIDE Master Marie Antoinette San Diego.

The topseeded San Diego is also standing in Morala's way but they won't meet until Round 11 of this week-long tournament sanctioned by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines.

The Subangdaku, Mandaue-native Belano also carried the fight for Cebu well with a perfect 2.0 points she obtained after outsmarting Shaina Gail Bagorio and Loraine Lacaba.

That catapulted Belano on top of the leaderboard in the girls 10-under alongside Antonella Berthe and Kimberly Colaste.

Cebu's other top bet in Candidate Master Jerish John Velarde, however, split his first two assignments to lag at seventh place in the boys 12-under.

The rest of the early leaders after Day 2 are John Marvin Flores, Kenneth Flores and Sarri Subahani (Under-20), Jayson Danday, Melito Ocsan, Darry Bernardo, WFM Allaney Jia Doroy and Rizalyn Jasmine Tejada (Under-18) and Adrian Othniel Patricio Yulo, Christian Mark Daluz, Kylen Joy Morido and Quennie Mae Samarita (16-under).

The likes of Daniel Quizon, Justine Diego Mordido, Crisus Joshua Sanchez, Irish Yngayo and Me Ann Joy Baclayon also started it strong in the under-14, Michael Concio, David Patrick Belisario, Joshua Reign Vinuya, Samantha Umayan and Quennie Rose Pamplona in the under-12, Thyrone Jacutina, Cedric Kahlel Abris and Relghie Columna in the under-10, and Austin Khloe Roan, Ruslan Pamplona, King Lanz Pamplona, Al-Basher Buto, Art Noblijas, Mecel Angela Gadut, Chrose Edward Vito Cruz and Jirah Floravie Cutiyog in the 8-under.

Action resumes today with rounds four to six on tap. (FREEMAN)