Gonzales, Bacojo share NCR Shell chess honors

MANILA, Philippines - Julius Gonzales racked up three victories in the last four rounds, including the last over Noel Geronimo to emerge as solo champion in the juniors division while Mark Bacojo topped the kiddies play in the NCR leg of the Shell National Youth Active Chess Championships at SM Megamall Event Center in Mandaluyong last Sunday.

Gonzales crushed Marie Lagrio then bounced back strong from an eighth-round setback to Istraelito Rilloraza with a victory over Geronimo as the La Salle-Greenhills bet pooled an eight-point total in the nine-round Swiss system tournament sponsored by Pilipinas Shell.

Rilloraza scored 3.5 points in the last four rounds and wound up with 7.5 points, nipping Lee Palma and Jester Sistoza in the tiebreak to clinch runner-up honors. Palma also closed out with 3.5 points to edge Sistoza, who had 2.5 points in the last four, for third place and the last berth in the grand finals slated in October.

Bacojo, a mainstay of Escuela de Sto. Rosario, won two and drew twice in the last four rounds to assemble eight points and bag the crown in the 7-12 division, towing Chester Reyes and Cedrick Gaddi to the national finals.