Fiel, two others share chess lead

MANILA, Philippines - Top seed Yves Christian Fiel hurdled his first four matches to forge a three-way tie for the lead halfway through the boys’ junior division of the Shell National Youth Active Chess Championships-Visayas leg at SM Cebu-Activity Center last Saturday.

Fiel, the University of San Carlos stalwart who topped this leg last year, beat Detlef Luga, Boiet Lao, Sherwin Amad and Paul Aguilar to move on top with Alfer Joseph Fernandez and unfancied Vincent Balena with four rounds left in the premier 20-and-under division of the event sponsored by Pilipinas Shell.

Fernandez disposed of Chris Aninipo, Jason Ortouste, Raymond Claro and Ralph Otero while Balena, playing out of St. Paul-Dumaguete, repulsed Eric Ugbinada, Vincent Crucero, Yuri Cauba and Frederick Hamak Jr. to stay in the race for one of two berths in the national finals.

Six players, including Mark Cuyag, Daryn Torres, Chezter Coquilla, Michael Silvederio, Christian Lumapac and Fritz Porras, remained in the hunt with 3.5 points.

The event is sanctioned by the National Chess Federation of the Phils. and backed by Shell V-Power, Shellane and Shell Helix in partnership with SM Supermalls and Rudy Project.