Balbona grabs top spot in boys juniors division

Felix Shaun Balbona of the University of San Carlos-Basic Education Department (USC-BED) secured the top spot in the boys-juniors division of the 21st Shell National Youth Active Chess Championship (SNYACC) yesterday at the SM City Cebu activity center.

The 16-year-old Balbona finished with 8.0 points after nine rounds to gain a seat to the national finals in Manila on Sept. 14 and 15.

Joining him there will be Pajo National High School’s Allan Pason, who finished second after a tie-breaker with USC’s Yves Fiel and Rhenzi Kyle Sevillano. All three had 7.5 points but Pason had a higher tie-break score.

The top two finishers in the boys division were awarded seats to the national grand finals while only the champions in the girls side was given the incentive.

In the girls-juniors division, Jazzelle Villarin of University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) emerged victorious after a tie breaker.

Villarin, Adelaide Lim of Bacolod’s University of St. La Salle (second place) and fellow Josenian Airene Robillos (third place) tallied 6.0 points after seven rounds but Villarin had a higher tie-break score to emerge the winner.

The boys-kiddies division Visayas delegates for the national finals are UC’s Chris Pondoyo (first place, 8.0 points) and Joshua Panes (second place, 7.5 points) from Antipolo National High School – Negros Occidental.

In the Girls-Kiddies Division, Cristy Cabungcag of Mabini National High School outclassed Cebu Technological University’s Fiona Guirhem, 6.5 – 6.0, to gain a seat to the finals.

In the grand finals, the Visayas delegation will be facing other top contenders from the other tournament legs.

Two more elimination legs are set to be held next month. The Mindanao leg will be at the SM Davao Event Center in Davao City on Aug. 3 to 4. The Northern Luzon leg will be held at the Brickstone Mall Event Center in Tugegarao on Aug. 17 to 18.

During yesterday’s awarding ceremony, Pilipinas Shell Social Investment Manager Jackie Ampil reprised the relevance of SNYACC’s contribution to the development of the Filipino youth into future leaders – imparting the values of discipline, sportsmanship, ingenuity, determination, diligence and responsibility to all the participants. She said she looks forward to more years of discovering new potential chess champions who will bring honor to the country.

Aside from the trophies, Lego sets and Unilever bags, the junior division winners were also awarded cash prizes.