Arellano, Tabada pace Shell Cebu chess tiff

MANILA, Philippines - Top seed John Bryll Arellano survived the rash of upsets that befell the other fancied bets in the juniors division while Kenneth John Tabada led the march of the favorites in the kiddies play of the 2009 Shell National Youth Active Chess Championships Central Visayas leg at SM City in Cebu City over the weekend.

Arellano toppled Maximo Dungog Jr., Kevin Codinera and Rogelio Clemente Jr. to tow 20 others with perfect scores after three rounds of play in the 20-and-under category of the event that drew a maximum field of 501 players.

But second seed Yves Christian Fiel, third ranked Godfrey Villamor along with a couple of others took stinging setbacks and failed to join Arellano in the lead heading into the last four rounds of the seven-round Swiss system tournament sponsored by Pilipinas Shell.

Khier Embrado stunned Fiel in the opening round then trounced Villamor in the third to join the leaders, who include James Torres, Jun Cauba, Joseph Fernandez, Kraig Quinain, Venancio Loyola Jr., Daryn Torres, Neil Ortiz, Michael Pagaran, Victor Alicaway Jr., Jay Sombillo, Bhell Ortiz, Mark Mendez, Alex Sombillo, Junel Tunacao, Bernardo Ruelo Jr., Eduard Pilapil, Reuben Reuyan, Edgar Macapos and Adrian Paraiso.

Gracing the opening of the two-day tournament, the fifth leg of a seven-stage nationwide circuit, were Ricky Altonaga, Pilipinas Shell retail district manager for Visayas and Regelle Pelayo, Cebu City SK Federation president, who did the ceremonial moves.

Tabada, meanwhile, crushed Chris Estreba, Vic Derotas and Rhona Canoy to lead 30 others in the 14-and-under class of the tournament under the Shell Active Chess program, which supports the empowerment of the youth as part of the company’s overall Sustainable Development commitment.