Medina, Yaon top Shell Active chess

MANILA, Philippines - Vince Medina swept his last four matches, including a breakthrough seventh round victory over top seed Jerome Villanueva, to capture the boys’ juniors crown while Michelle Yaon nipped two others in the tiebreak to clinch the girls’ plum in the Shell National Youth Active Chess Championship Northern Luzon leg in Tuguegarao last Sunday.

The third-seeded Medina, tied for the lead with Charles Abuzo and Aglipay Oberio after five rounds, sustained his form as he subdued Christian Nanola in the sixth then surprised Villanueva with the black before beating Oberio and Spencer Real in the last two to emerge solo champ with 8.5 points.

Abuzo clipped Oberio in the sixth but was stalled by back-to-back draws and dropped his final round match to Villanueva, enabling Jan Galan to snatch runner-up honors with 7.5 points and the other berth in next month’s national finals.

Galan, who shared fourth with six others halfway through the nine-round Swiss system tournment, rallied with 3.5 points in the last four rounds while Villanueva ran out of rounds and settled for third with seven points.

Yaon rebounded from a fifth round setback to Rowelyn Acedo with victories over Higzzy Manaloto and Joribene Bonifacio.