Nazario, Pineda top Shell NCR chess

MANILA, Philippines - UP’s Marc Nazario bounced back from a seventh round setback with two victories to capture the boys’ juniors crown while second seed Judith Pineda took the girls’ title in the Shell National Youth Active Chess Championships – NCR leg at SM Megamall over the weekend.

The fifth ranked Nazario bowed to No. 16 Jefferson Mansanero after sweeping his first six matches but toppled Letran’s Ali Guya and Jan Galan in the last two rounds to emerge solo champion in the 20-and-under class with eight points in the nine-round Swiss system event kicking off the 20th staging of the five-leg nationwide talent-search.

Mansanero, playing out of National U, settled for second with 7.5 points, his title bid spoiled by a final round draw with UST’s Steven Dacanay, who forced a five-way tie for third with seven points, who included Jude Fronda, also of UST, La Salle’s Franz Grafil and Christian Nanola and Guya.

Pineda took the solo lead after winning her first six games then went for a draw with Hiezel Coraje to clinch the victory with 6.5 points in the seven-round girls’ side of the tournament sponsored by Pilipinas Shell and sanctioned by the National Chess Federation of the Phl.

Roxanne Atayde settled for second with six points while Coraje and Ynna Canape finished tied for third with 5.5 points.

Earlier, Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. Social Investment manager Jackie Ampil and media relations manager Toby Nebrida made the ceremonial moves in elaborate rites graced by Ron Jabal, Pilipinas Shell Internal Communications manager and GMs Eugene Torre and Jayson Gonzales, executive director of NCFP, Ronald Suarez, Pilipinas Shell nGO and Stakeholder relations manager and Fide arbiter Binita Shah.

In kiddies’ boys category, Carlo Caranyagan rebounded from two draws in the seventh and eighth rounds with a final round victory over John Donguines to finish with eight points and edge Mark Marcellana in the tiebreak for the crown.

Marcellana recovered from a fifth round setback to Caranyagan with a sweep of his last four games while Howard Viernes posted 7.5 points to end up third in the two-day tournament conducted by Chess Arbiters Union of the Phl, headed by IA Gene Poliarco and NAs Alex Dinoy and Hermilo Samaniego.

Marie Magpily stunned third seed Jesca Docena in the seventh round to finish with six points then nipped Nicole dela Cruz and Docena in the tiebreak to snatch the crown and join the other division winners in the national finals set Sept. 22-23, also at SM Megamall.

Meanwhile, the second leg of the Shell active chess circuit will be held in Tuguegarao for the Northern Luzon leg on July 14-15 at the Brickstone Mall. For details, contact tournament director Alex Dinoy at 0922-8288510 or leg coordinator Mariano Cabugos at (078) 844-0513 (Tuguegarao). To find out more about the Shell Active Chess tourney, check out to www.shell.com.ph/shell_chess <http://www.shell.com.ph/shell_chess> .