Pondoyo, Velarde top Shell Active Cebu chess

MANILA, Philippines — Chris Pondoyo scored 2.5 points in the last three rounds then edged Cyril Telesforo in the tiebreak to snare the juniors crown while Jerish John Velarde and Allan Pason dominated their respective divisions in the 25th Shell National Youth Active Chess Championship-Visayas leg held at SM City Cebu last Sunday.

The top-ranked Pondoyo, a University of Cebu standout, stopped erstwhile unbeaten leader Fiona Guirhem in the seventh round then whipped Jeremy Tanudra in the eighth before halving the point with Telesforo in the final round to finish with 7.5 points.

Telesforo, from Central Phl University, also pooled 7.5 points with earlier victories over Jave Peteros and Alphecca Gonzales. But Pondoyo took home the crown on a superior tiebreak score, with Telesforo joining him in the national finals along with top female player Alphecca Gonzales of RMDFS-STEC who ended up with seven points in the 13-16 age category.

It was a sorry windup for Guirhem, also of CPU, who dropped her last three matches after scoring 5.5 points in the first six games.

Gracing the awards rites of the final regional elims of the country’s longest talent-search sponsored by Pilipinas Shell are Shell Petroleum Corp. Retail territory managers Greg Moratin and Sharmane Go, and community coordinator Chiqui Guison.

Velarde, on the other hand, sustained his hot start with a stronger finish in the kiddies class, beating Jeraian Cagang, John Belano and Sean Cogonon in the last three rounds as the Marie Ernestine School ace emerged the solo kiddies winner with 8.5 points.

Cagang, from Guiwanon Elem. School, rebounded from a loss to Velarde with victories over Jervy Villarin and Krisen Sanchez to finish solo second with 7.5 for a berth in the national finals set Oct. 7-8 at SM Mall of Asia.

Edelyn Vosotros of Mabolo Elem. School toppled Lennox Samson, drew with Dwayne Abella then trounced Jasmine Atienza to end up tied for third with seven points and clinch the lone female berth in the grand finals in the 7-12 age bracket.

Pason, meanwhile, topped the seniors class with 8.5 points, capping his one-point victory over Jethro Esplanada with victories over Adrian Basilgo, Ysmael Caparino and John Sarabia in the last three rounds.