7-year old Pangilinan rules 14-Under tourney with 9/9 performance

BY: MARLON BERNARDINO

ANOTHER Wesley So is in the making as a young Filipino woodpusher emerged as the over-all champion in his divisions at the conclusion of Shell National Youth Active Chess Championships Northern Luzon leg in Tuguegarao City on Sunday.

Stephen Rome Pangilinan (in photo), a 7 year old student of Christian Ecclesiastical School, takes home the championship trophy in the kiddies division by winning all his nine games.

Pangilinan from Bulacan province makes name for himself after winning the Susan Polgar International Chess Festival under eight-year-old division two years ago in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Mark Kevin Labog, Paul Benjamin Casiano, Christian Dave Cabida and Alder Baldwin Jallorina finished in a tie for 2nd to 5th placers with 7.5 points each.

In the junior division, Vince Angelo Medina of FEU-FERN with undefeated 7.5 points out of 8 rounds champions to enroute the title. FEU-FERN dominate the top 4 places with 2nd place is Kevin Mirano, 3rd place is Mc Dominique Lagula and 4th is Lennon Hart Salgados.

In the kick-off leg at SM Megamall a week ago, Mari Joseph Turqueza, the pride of V.Luna Chess Club topped the juniors division while Jerad Docena of FEU-FERN won the kiddies tiara.

The third leg will be held July 17-18 for the Southern Luzon elims in Batangas while Naga City will host the fourth leg for the Southern Luzon qualifier on July 31-Aug. 1.

Iloilo takes its turn on Aug. 14-15 for the Western Visayas leg while Cebu will hold the Central Visayas stage on Aug. 28-29. The seventh leg will be held Sept. 11-12 in Cagayan de Oro before the circuit winds up on Sept. 25-26 for the Mindanao leg in Davao.

The top three finishers in all legs will advance to the grand finals slated Oct. 23-24 at SM Megamall. Each leg will be an eight-round Swiss system event for the juniors and nine-round for the kiddies. The grand finals will be a nine-round tournament for both divisions.