Lagula paces Shell chess leg

MANILA, Philippines - Top seed McDominique Lagula played true to form and swept his first four games to wrest the solo lead in the boys’ juniors division of the 19th Shell National Youth Active Chess Championship Northern Luzon leg at the Brickstone Mall in Tuguegarao over the weekend.

Lagula toppled Ace Balubal, Noel dela Cruz, Michael Punzalan and Mark Mendoza to post a half-point lead over second seed Jan Galan, No. 3 Aglipay Oberio, sixth ranked Franz Grafil, No. 9 Conrado Agaton and No. 15 Paul Casiano while 12 others, led by fourth seed Gil Ruaya, stood a point off the pace heading into the last four rounds of the 20-and-under category.

Unfancied Highzzy Manaloto, meanwhile, surprised the girls juniors division by sweeping her first four matches, including a second round win over third seed Michelle Yaon, to tie top seed Liza Agustin in the lead.

Manaloto, an unrated player, also disposed of Eunice Balbuena, Crizelle Geron and Ana Medina, to arrange a fifth round clash with Agustin, who stamped his class over Everlynne Bueno, Lois Castro, Maria Guillermo and second seed Louise Soler.

Earlier, Paolo Bernardo, Shell Retail Territory manager, and city administrator Miguel Lim made the ceremonial moves to kick off the second leg of the circuit. Also gracing the event was Ronald Suarez, Sustainable Development manager of Pilipinas Shell.

In kiddies play, Solano Nat’ High’s Mark Labog, Istraelito Rilloraza, Gino Cabual, Raul Sol Cruz Jr. and Allan Delada shared the boys’ division lead with four points while Alder Jallorina and Daniel Abuzo posted 3 ½ points each and stayed in the hunt in the two-day tournament sponsored by Pilipinas Shell and sanctioned by the National Chess Federation of the Phils.

In the girls’ side of the 14-and-under category, Syra Barrera won her first four games to force a three-way tie for the lead with Jill Alcaraz and Virgenie Ruaya while nine others, including Bianca Geron and Joyce Agpanga, scored three points in the event backed by Shell V-Power, Shellane and Shell Helix in partnership with SM Supermalls, Rudy Project and Brickstone Mall in Tuguegarao leg.