Cebuanos Lose Top Spots to Visitors in Shell Chess Visayas Elims

Philgymn Villajuan went undefeated to rule the kiddies’ division of the 23rd Shell National Youth Active Chess Championship Visayas elimination at the SM City Activity Center over the weekend.

Villajuan was just one of three visiting players who ruled the event as the top local players struggled to keep up with the visitors.

Villajuan, a 12-year-old Grade 6 pupil of Barangay Legaspi Elementary School, scored eight points to bag the slot in the national finals in September.

Prior to the tournament, Villajuan played in two events in Cebu to familiarize himself with the venue and the local players and the gamble paid off as he beat Richard Gohetia Jr., Angele Mae Hibaya, Eunice Remly Tungol, Marian Calimbo, James Paraon, Angel Bagano and Gila Casa to top the seven to 12 years old category.

His two draws were against top seed Adrian de Luna and Regina Catherine Quinanola.

He will be joined by De Luna, the second placer from Sta. Barbara Central School of Iloilo who finished with 7.5 points, and Malabuyoc Elementary School’s Marian Calimbo, who was the top female performer.

In the juniors’ division, another visiting player topped the event with Genesis Mateo Borromeo of Tanjay City finishing first with eight points.

University of Cebu’s Chris Aldritz Pondoyo prevented a shutout of the locals by finishing second with 7.5 points, beating Kris Oswald Olvido of Central Philippines University via tiebreak.

Laila Camel Nadera of the University of San Carlos-Basic Education Department also got a spot in the national finals of the 13 to 16 years old division as she finished with 6.5 points to bag the top female performer award.

In the senior division, Adrian dela Cruz of Negros Oriental State University won the title via tiebreak after finishing with a triple tie with University of San Jose Recoletos star players Jehtro Esplanada and Felix Shaun Balbona.

The three finished with 7.5 points but Dela Cruz had the highest tiebreak points with 54.5, while Esplanada got second with 51.5. Airene Robillos, also of USJ-R, was the top female performer with 6.5 points.

Despite losing a chance to qualify, organizer Adel Domingo said the Cebuanos still have two chances to win a spot in the national finals.

“They can still join the Northern Mindanao leg in Cagayan de Oro next week or the Southern Mindanao Leg in Davao City on Aug. 9 and 10,” said Domingo.

The national finals will be held in Mandaluyong City on Sept. 19 and 20. (PNA) SCS/EB/MP/SSC