NCR bets pace Shell Active national finals

MANILA, Philippines - NCR winners Jerich Cajeras and Sherwin Tiu tallied four points apiece in varying fashions as they paced the boys’ juniors division of the Shell National Youth Active Chess Championships National Grand Finals after six rounds at SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City over the weekend.

Cajeras, playing out of St. Benilde, bounced back from a shaky start of a draw and a loss with three straight victories before halving the point with Jon Christian Lesaca in the sixth round to tie Tiu, who swept his first three matches but lost the next two before beating Jan Nigel Galan in the sixth.

University. of Visayas’ John Michael Silvederio, fighting back from a draw and back-to-back setbacks with three straight wins, took solo third with 3.5 points, while McDominique Lagula of FEU, Aglipay Oberio of La Salle and Galan posted three points apiece with three rounds left in the centerpiece division of the event sponsored by Pilipinas Shell. 

Earlier, Gerboy Ortega, Shell vice president for human resources, and DepEd assistant secretary Tonisito Umali made the ceremonial moves kicking off the two-day championship which supports youth empowerment as part of the company’s overall Sustainable Development commitment.

Also gracing the event was Ronald Suarez, Pilipinas Shell Sustainable Development manager.