Esplanada, Canino top Shell CDO chess leg

MANILA, Philippines - University of San Jose-Recoletos’ Jethro Esplanada swept his last three matches, including a final round win over erstwhile leader John Ray Batucan to cop the juniors crown while Romeo Canino took the kiddies plum in the Shell National Youth Active Chess Championship Northern Mindanao leg at SM City in Cagayan de Oro City last Sunday.

The fourth-ranked Esplanada, half-a-point behind Batucan after six rounds, downed John Acedo and Paul Omongos at resumption of the nine-round tournament then outplayed Batucan with the black to emerge solo champion in the 20-and-under class with 8.5 points.

Top seed Felix Balbona, who also beat Batucan in the seventh round and Jimson Trangia in the eighth, lost to Diego Claro in the final round but still finished second with 7.5 points to nail the other berth in the grand finals of the annual event sponsored by Pilipinas Shell.

MOGCHS’s Julie Anne Opema, who had four points after six rounds, also swept her last three games against Roweve Pagulong, Edcel Amper and Alberto Diolola Jr. to finish tied for third with five others at seven points and emerge the top female player. She will thus join Esplanada and Balbona in the grand championship set Oct. 11-12 at SM Megamall.

Romeo Canino, also ranked No. 4 and an MOGCHS standout, ripped brother Ronald in a duel of unbeaten players in the seventh round then trounced Adrian Yulo before splitting the point with Ronulfo Ranario to top the kiddies section, also with 8.5 points.

Top seed Carl Sato, from AO Floirendo NHS, finished second with eight points on victories over Mary Joy Tan, Phoenix Baguio and Andrew Felicilda to annex the other finals berth while Bhea Buen Ecal, also of MOGCHS, took the lone female slot in the 14-and-under class after ending up tied for fourth with five others at seven points. Ranario placed solo third with 7.5 points.

On hand during awards rites were Pilipinas Shell Social Investment manager Jackie Ampil, Shell CDO Terminal manager Gene Abrantes, Shell Iligan dealer Bebot Perez, and Shell CDO Retail Territory manager Mark Calo.

Other backers of the circuit, which coincides with the centennial anniversary of the energy and gas technology leader in the Philippines, are Shell FuelSave Unleaded and Diesel, Shell Fuel Oils, Shell V Power Nitro and Shell Rimula, as well as by Unilever and SM Supermalls.

Meanwhile, the Southern Mindanao leg will be held Aug. 30-31 at SM City in Davao City with listup ongoing. For details, contact Ronnie Tabudlong at (0943) 249-0821 or Alex Dinoy at 0922-8288510.