Shell youth chess kicks off in NCR

MANILA, Philippines – The search for the next Wesley Sos continues as the Shell National Youth Active Chess Championships (SNYACC) celebrates its 20th year with a five-leg tournament spread over key cities in the country.

The longest-running talent search for chess wizards, the SNYACC unfurls with the National Capital Region meet on June 23-24 at the SM Megamall. The chessfest then goes to Tuguegarao for  the second leg – the North Luzon elims – on July 14-15 at the Brickstone Mall before making a Southern swing from Aug. 11-12 at SM  Davao for the fourth stage (Mindanao) and finally at SM Cebu Event Center from Aug. 25-26 for the fifth and final stage (Visayas).

Winners from the various legs will later converge at SM Megamall on Sept. 22-23 to dispute top honors in the grand finals.

“We expect yet another spirited nationwide battle for top honors this year and with around 1,500 participating,” Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. social investment manager Jackie Ampil said during yesterday’s PSA Forum at Shakey’s UN Avenue.

According to Alexander Dinoy, SNYACC tournament director, the tourney will feature competitions in the junior division, girls’ 20-and-under, and kiddies-14-and-under for both boys and girls.

Prior to getting in front of the chess boards for the actual reckoning, some 150 kids got free lessons in a two-day seminar dubbed “An Interaction with the Masters” last May 30 at SM Megamall. GM-elect Ronald Dableo, IM Ildefonso Datu, FM Randy Segarra and IA Rolando Yutuc conducted the clinics.

Launched in 1992, the Shell chessfest has been serving as a breeding ground for world-class players, topped off by the current Phl No. 1 So and fellow GMs Nelson Mariano II, Mark Paragua, Darwin Laylo, John Paul Gomez, Oliver Barbosa, Richard Bitoon, Julio Catalino Sadorra and Dableo.

“Over the past 20 years we have produced nine Grandmasters and about as many International Masters and FIDE Masters, so that’s an average of one master a year,” said Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. media relations manager Toby Nebrida.

Ampil promised sustained support for the long-running chessfest.

“Over the next five years, we hope to produce more talents by holding stronger competitions and games while continuing to go out to the grassroots and including more schools, chess clubs and municipal and provincial government offices,” said Ampil.

For inquiries on the Shell Active Chess tourney, interested parties may contact Alex Dinoy at 0922-8288510 or 0916-6882682. More information on Shell Active Chess can be found at www.shell.com.ph/shell_chess.