18th SNYCC highlights

BY: ANTHONY NAVARRO (Chesswindows Laguna Correspondent)

Last Oct 23 / Sunday, after driving my eldest to a college entrance exam site in Manila, it was the opportunity to take a peek at the SM Megamall for the much ballyhoed Shell Active Grand Finals. I was just in time before the final 9th round for both Kiddies and Juniors Divisions.

In the Kiddies Division, Christian Nañola of LCBA Calamba and Giovanni Mejia of LSGH were clear of the rest of the field with 6.5 points after 8 gruelling rounds with other Shell regional leg champions. In a huddle with Christian, his dad and townmates, they were citing that Gio won over Christian earlier in round 3, so if they both won or drew their final games, Gio would have the inside track due to 'winner over the other' rule. They also knew that both players have already played the major contenders at the top.

And so the final pairings were posted and at top board (covered live viacamera) will battle FEU's Jerad Docena and Nanola, while at board 2 wil be Gio Mejia vs lower placed Allan Pason. Since the boards were quite a distance from the spectators' railings, focus was mainly on the BIG Toshiba monitor showing the top board battle which was touch and go for awhile.

Christian had the initiative and space and pressing on with his pawns but towards the end, he was in some sort of trouble for awhile in a knight and bishop endgame falling a pawn behind. But he still found the right knight maneuvers while under time pressure to keep it even. Jerad thought about it for awhile for over a minute before agreeing to a draw when his time was about to reach 30 seconds. Christian didn't realize it afterwards upon learning that Gio actually fell to Pason in his encounter that he WAS to become the Kiddies champ on his final year in the U14 ranks! Wow, what a milestone for Laguna kiddies chess!

In my close to 2 years of being back to the Philippine chess team, this is the peak so far! Kudos also to Gio and Jerad, the kiddies young guns, they still have at least a year to go in the U-14. CDO Leg Champ Felix Balbona was 4th while FEU's Paul Robert Evangelista placed 5th, both also had 6 points same as 3rd placer Docena. Spoiler Pason finished 8th with 5.5 points.

In the Juniors Division, there was a similar drama with Sheider Nebato of FEU, Richilieu Salcedo of RTU and Jerwell Andoy /CDO Leg Champ being tied at 6 points each after 8 rounds. In the final round, it was Nebato pitted against St Benilde's Turqueza, Salcedo vs FEU's Chavez and Andoy vs Perez. Nebato faltered while Salcedo and Andoy hurdled their games to finish with 7 points each with Salcedo clinching the championship due to direct encounter rule. Nebato settled for 3rd place with the highest tiebreak in a big group of 6 pointers. FEU's Rapanot was 4th while Turqueza got 5th place.

Kiddies Champ Christian Nañola of LCBA Calamba,Laguna with his family and supporters.

Juniors champ Chamo Richilieu Salcedo of RTU (in white Adidas jacket) with his co-finalists.

BIG Toshiba screen hooked up to a camera focussed on the top board per Division. Chess events coverage in the Philippines is definitely evolving!

top board action between Sheider Nebato / FEU and Mari Turqueza / St Benilde which Turqueza won, enabling Richilieu Salcedo of RTU to snare the championship.

Top board action in the Kiddies Division, Jerad Docena / FEU vs Christian Nanola / LCBA Calamba and Gio Mejia/LSGH vs Allan Pason / Cebu Leg Champ.

The hardworking long-time Shell Chief Organizer Alex Dinoy working on his laptop for the in-between rounds updates.