YVES CHRISTIAN Fiel and University of San Carlos’s (USC) Rhenzi Kyle Sevillano are off to sizzling starts in the first day of the 19th Shell National Youth Active Chess Championships Visayas Leg-Cebu at the event center of SM City Cebu.
Fiel has 4.0 points after four rounds while Sevillano also got 4.0 in the kiddies division.
Fiel last beat Dhan Paul Aguilar in the fourth round while Sevillano defeated Gerard Joshua Gelera.
Other players who had perfect scores so far were Lapu-Lapu City’s Allan Pason, Kris Oswald Olvido, Kenan John Anoran, Alfer Joseph Fernandez and Vincent Balena.
Chessie Dela Peña, Roxan Tampus Jean Cagang share the lead in the distaff side.
Princess Sharon Pacres, Fiona Geeweneth Guirhem, Armi Venice Lumapac, Queenie Maries Cablao and Joy Lyn Tomarong lead after three rounds in the girls kiddies division.
The tournament continues today as players vie for six slots to represent Team Visayas in the national finals in Manila on Oct. 8 and 9.
Meanwhile, Sustainable Development manager Ronald Suarez is optimistic about this year’s competition.
“We believe that positive values are developed in this sport,” he said during the launching of the tournament yesterday at the Royal Krua Thai Restaurant.
“This is an avenue for better education for the youth and it also develops their mathematical skills.”
The Shell National Active Chess Championships has already become the stepping stone for Filipino Grand Masters and Internationals Masters.
In 1993, GM Nelson Mariano became the inaugural champion of the tournament before becoming a GM while Mark Paragua was a champion in the kiddies division before becoming also a GM. /CORRESPONDENT DALE G. ROSAL