Sevillano, Derotas bag Shell chess kiddies crowns

MANILA, Philippines - Rhenzi Kyle Sevillano and Vic Glysen Derotas dominated their respective divisions to run away with the boys’ and girls’ kiddies titles, respectively, in the 2012 Shell National Youth Active Chess Championships at the SM Megamall Event Center in Mandaluyong City last Sunday.

Sevillano, who topped the Mindanao leg qualifier, sustained his hot start with a stronger finish, sweeping his last four matches to emerge solo champion with eight points in the nine-round robin tournament sponsored by Pilipinas Shell for the 20th year.

Tied for the lead with Carlo Caranyagan after five rounds, the fifth ranked Sevillano downed second seed Kenneth Norman Honculada, No. 3 Carl Valdellon and No. 4 Juan Carlos Presente before disposing of No. 10 Mark James Marcellana in the final round to highlight his romp in the 14-and-under division.

He finished 1.5 points ahead of runner-up Daryl Unix Samantila, who pooled 6.5 points then nipped Caranyagan in the tiebreak for runner-up honors in the event sponsored by Pilipinas Shell for the 20th year.

Derotas, playing out of Univ. of San Carlos-Cebu, likewise stamped her class in her side of the tournament scoring 8.5 points in the 10-round competition for a two-point victory over Alexis Osena, who wound up with 6.5 points.

Like Sevillano, the No. 5 Derotas kept the momentum of her romp in the first half of the 10-round tournament where she scored 4.5 points after six rounds then swept her last four games over Jesca Docena, Natalie Abuzo, Francois Magpily and top seed Frinze Ezra Ocliasa.

Docena finished third with six points while Magpily, Ocliasa and Abuzo wound up with 4.5, 2.5 and two points, respectively, in the event sanctioned by National Chess Federation of the Phils.

Jerad Docena and Rowelyn Joy Acedo took the juniors crowns via tiebreaks.

Bobby Kanapi, vice president for Communications and Government Relations of Pilipinas Shell, graced the awards rites along with Social Investment manager Jackie Ampil, Commercial Marketing manager Danny Kumar, Downstream Social Performance advisor Janot Barreto and media relations manager Toby Nebrida and FIDE Master Mari Joseph Turqueza, a former Shell active chess participant.