Pason, Derotas win Shell kiddies titles

LAPU-LAPU City’s Allan Pason topped the boys kiddies division of the 19th Shell National Youth Active Chess Championships Visayas Leg-Cebu at the SM City Cebu event center yesterday.

Vic Glysen Derotas of the University of San Carlos (USC) also came out victorious as she topped the girls division to book a seat in the Grand Finals this October.

Pason finished the eight-round Swiss system format tournament with 7.5 points while Derotas had 6.5 in the girls’ side.

Meanwhile, University of Visayas woodpushers Alfer Joseph Fernandez and Michael Silvederio shared the top spot in the boys juniors division with 7.0 points each.

also joining the Grand Finals will be USC’s Rhenzi Kyle Sevillano, who finished second to Pason with 6.5 points. He will be making his fourth attempt at the Grand Finals.

Sevillano was actually tied with Jethro Esplanada and Alson Vincent Lim but the former had a bigger FIDE score of 32.5 points to finish second.

Sevillano will bank on his experience in the national finals to strengthen his bid to win the crown in the kiddies boys division. Cebuano IM Kim Steven Yap was  the last kiddies grand champion in 2003.

Keith Clare Lumapac will be joining Derotas in the Grand Finals  together with Jessa Marie Balbona. Both manages to chalk up 6.0 points to qualify./CORRESPONDENT DALE G. ROSAL