Garcia, Nanola show way in Shell NCR chess elims

MANILA, Philippines - Ateneo’s Jan Garcia racked up five wins in row in impressive fashions while Christian Nanola of Laguna upset eighth seed Dave Dulay in the fifth round to gain a share of the lead in their respective divisions in the Shell National Youth Active Chess Championships-NCR leg at SM Mall of Asia over the weekend.

The third seeded Garcia, a veteran internationalist, downed Riza Bonifacio, Irene Samonte, Jessica Visca, Lemuel Bermas and Ferdinand Reyes Jr. to force a three-way tie for first with No. 6 Richelieu Salcedo of PMI and FEU’s Lennon Salgados heading into the last two rounds of the Swiss system tournament.

Salcedo beat Jerome Flores, Marie Galang, Narquingcel Reyes, James Dacanay and Adam Rico while Salgados won over Jeffrey Macabitas, Ronald Barcelon, Ephraim Maliam, Gerald Ferriol and Jayson Mercado to stay in the hunt for top honors in the 20-and-under division of the two-category event sponsored by Pilipinas Shell under its Shell Active Chess program, which supports the empowerment of the youth as part of the company’s overall Sustainable Development commitment.

Top seed Kevin Mirano, also of FEU, was held to a draw in third round by Narquingden Reyes and stood in joint fourth with Antonio Chavez, Jr., Charlene Suede and Reyes while 20 others posted four points and remained in the race for the top three places and berths in the national finals.

The 30th-ranked Nanola’s stirring win over Dulay hiked the Laguna College of Business and Arts student’s total to five points for a share of the lead with second seed Jeremiah Alfonso, fourth ranked Vince Medina, No. 5 Paulo Bersamina, No. 9 Paul Evangelista and 10th seed Giovanni Mejia in the kiddies side of the event, the nation’s longest running, grassroots-based chess tournament working on a theme “Maglaro at Matuto, Kasama ang Chess Barkada!”