Pondoyo, Cabungcag dominate Shell chess

MANILA, Philippines - Top seed Chris Pondoyo bucked an eighth round setback to Adrian Basilgo with a final round romp over Jeremy Pepito to rule the boys’ kiddies class while No. 5 Cristy Cabungcag topped the girls’ side in the 21st Shell National Youth Active Chess Championship Visayas leg at SM City Cebu Event Center last Sunday.

Pondoyo swept his first seven games in impressive fashion but fell in ambush to the sixth-ranked Basilgo in the penultimate round before the University of Cebu bet foiled Pepito to finish with eight points and emerge solo winner in the 14-and-under division.

No. 12 Joshua Panes scored 3.5 points in the last four rounds, including back-to-back victories over Edsel Vosotros and Basilgo, to salvage second place at 7.5 points and clinch the other berth in the national finals of the annual event sponsored by Pilipinas Shell.