MANILA, Philippines - Second seed Charles Abuzo, No. 3 Vince Medina and fifth-ranked Aglipay Oberio posted 4.5 points each to seize control in the boys’ juniors division while Michelle Yaon and Rowelyn Joy Acedo took charge in girls’ play in the Shell National Youth Active Chess Championship Northern Luzon leg in Tuguegarao last Saturday.
Abuzo and Medina swept their first four games before halving the point in the fifth round while Oberio whisked off Mark Bermejo and Ian Allam then bounced back from a third round draw with Mark Asejo with victories over Denzel Amar and Virgen Ruaya to gain a share of the lead in the centerpiece division.
Top seed Jerome Villanueva rolled past his first three rivals but settled for draws in the next two. He fell behind with four points with six others heading to the last four rounds of the nine-round Swiss system tournament sanctioned by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines.
Other four pointers were Jerald Calivoso, Alder Jallorina, Jan Galan, Christian Nanola, Emanuel Alar and Asejo while Ruaya kept his hopes for one of the two berths in the national finals with 3.5 points.
Earlier, Tuguegarao City Mayor Jefferson Soriano and kiddies participant Russel Valdez of Libag Elem. School made the ceremonial moves kicking off the two-day tournament at the Brickstone Mall Event Center.
Others who graced the event, serving as the final leg of the five-stage nationwide circuit sponsored by Pilipinas Shell for the 21st year, were Shell retail territory manager for North Luzon Paolo Bernardo and city administrator Ronald Brillantes.
The seventh-ranked Yaon disposed of Ma. Jessica Espiritu and Ana Medina then stunned No. 2 Mariel Batulan in the third round before outclassing Eunice Whigan to tie the third-ranked Acedo, who dismantled Gina Nicolas, Natasha San Juan, Whigan and Queenie Reyes.