7-leg Shell active chess unwraps June 20

MANILA, Philippines – The future stars of RP chess take center stage beginning June 20 as the Shell National Youth Active Chess Championship (Shell Active Chess), the nation’s longest running, grassroots-based chess competition, unveils its 2009 season with a promise of another spirited nationwide battle for top honors in two age divisions.

The seven-leg circuit, spread over key cities in the country, features the Juniors division, for players 20-year-old and under, and the Kiddies division, for players 14-and-under, with the top finishers gaining berths in the national finals slated in October.

“Through the Shell Active Chess program, which we have been holding annually for 17 years now as part of the company’s commitment to Sustainable Development, Pilipinas Shell has helped nurture the skill and talent of the Filipino youth. We also hope that through this program, we can help our country’s youth inculcate the values that this sport cultivates,” said Chito Maniago, Pilipinas Shell Sustainable Development manager.

This year’s Shell Active Chess circuit will start on June 20-21 for the NCR leg at SM Mall of Asia, with the second stage set July 4-5 for the Northern Luzon elims in Tuguegarao. The third leg will be held July 18-19 for the Southern Luzon elims in Batangas, while Naga City will host the fourth leg for the Southern Luzon qualifier on Aug. 1-2. Cebu takes its turn to stage the fifth leg on Aug. 15-16 for the Central Visayas leg, while Iloilo will hold the Western Visayas elims on Aug. 29-30 before the circuit winds up on Sept. 19-20 for the Mindanao leg in Davao.