32 finalists clash in Shell chess finals

MANILA, Philippines - The Shell National Youth Active Chess, a proven and tested breeding ground for Filipino grandmasters, caps its 2011 season with the staging of its National Grand Finals on Oct. 8 and 9 at the SM Megamall.

A total of 32 players made it to the two-day finals following a series of tough elimination tournaments in Northern and Southern Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao.

Ronald Suarez, the Sustainable Development manager of Pilipinas Shell, told yesterday’s PSA Forum at Shakey’s UN Ave. that for a change, the girls will have a division of their own.

“This time the girls are getting an equal chance,” said Suarez, who was joined in the forum by Pilipinas Shell government and media relations manager Mich Cruz and tournament director Alex Dinoy.

Suarez said action starts at 10 a.m. on Saturday. He invited the public to come and watch the action through LCD screens.

Favored in the girls’ ranks are Brena Mae Membrera of Ateneo, Laren Jean Enriquez of Adamson and Rowelyn Joy Acedo of Jose Maria College, among others.

The Shell Active Chess program is on its 19th year, according to Cruz, making it the longest-running grassroots sports program in the country.

“This is our way at Shell of promoting the Filipino youth, and our commitment to sustainable development,” said Cruz, naming Nelson Mariano, Mark Paragua and Wesley So as among the Filipino grandmasters who came out of the Shell chess program.