Shell Active Davao leg overwhelmed by participants

A report from Sunstar.com:

OVER 600 woodpushers from all over Mindanao joined the 17th Shell National Youth Active Chess Championship Mindanao leg that opened at the SM City Davao Events Centre yesterday.

While the bulk of entries come from Davao City, a good number of entries come as far as Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Tagum City, Digos City, Cagayan de Oro City, Kidapawan City, General Santos City and Cotabato City, among others.

Davao City's very own 2009 Vietnam Age-Group Chess Championships gold medalist Austin Jacob Literatus and 2008 Vietnam Age-Group Chess Championships gold medalist John Ray Batucan lead the cast of kiddies 14 and under participants.

Literatus, who led the oath of sportsmanship during the opening rites, is defending his Shell Mindanao leg title that he won here last year.

In the junior 20 and under category, University of Mindanao (UM), Holy Cross of Davao College (HCDC) and Xavier University bets are among the favorites.

Pilipinas Shell retail district manager for Mindanao Mark Anthony Gayon gave the welcome remarks while Davao City Councilor Nilo Abellera represented Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte as guest speaker.

Private Schools Administrators Association of Davao (Prisaad) president Dina Ceballo also shared a special message to the young hopefuls of the event with the theme, "Maglaro at Matuto kasama ang Chess Barkada!".

Winners will receive cash prizes and trophies during the awarding ceremonies this afternoon.
The top four players in each division will earn slots to the grand finals set on October 10 and 11 at the SM Megamall where the juniors champion will pocket P30,000 and the kiddies champion will go home with P20,000.