Cebu chessfest draws 300 entries

CEBU, Philippines - Around 300 young pawnpushers participated in the Visayas leg of the 2012 Shell National Youth Active Chess Championships, which kicked off yesterday at the Event Centre of SM City-Cebu.

Considered as the country’s longest running grassroots-based chess tournament, the event aims to discover prospects in the juniors and kiddies division that will represent Visayas in the national finals slated on September 22 at SM Megamall in Ortigas.

Among the top players to watch in the two-day tilt are Alfer Joseph Fernandez and Allan Pason. Fernandez of the University of the Visayas (UV) will defend his title in the juniors category, while Cebu City Chess Festival grand champion Allan Pason will see action in the kiddies class.

Through the years, Shell Active Chess has produced world-class players such as GMs Wesley So, Mark Paragua and Darwin Laylo and Cebu’s pride IM Richard Bitoon and Kim Steven Yap to name a few. - THE FREEMAN