Last hurrah
Davao chessers aim high in Shell's final stop
DAVAO region bets vie for titles in the 25th Shell National Youth Active Chess Championships (SNYACC) grand finals, the farewell edition of the longest-running youth chessfest in the country, set today and tomorrow at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
SNYACC Southern Mindanao leg champions Wesley Jovan Magbanua (kiddies), Aaron Japeth Caresosa (juniors) and Andre Miguel Jorgio (seniors) along with other qualifiers Irish Yngayo, Charliemagne Arias, Cyrhea Ruth Atog, Kurth John Placencia, Gino Angelo Asuncion and Dhona Yngayo left for Manila yesterday in a trip paid for by Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation. The company will also cover their board and lodging. Under-18 players were accompanied by a parent, coach or guardian.
Davao Central College's Yngayo, Southern Mindanao leg regional junior division runner-up and junior top female awardee, earlier said she would give it her best shot in the championships although she admitted being sad that it will be her last stint in the SNYACC after management decided to end it after 25 years.
"Paningkamutan jud nako, himuon nako ang tanang makaya nako sa tournament (I will do my best, do everything I can in the competition)," the 14-year-old Yngayo, who has long been competing in the SNYACC since she was four, added.
Magbanua, a 12 yearold Grade 7 student of Jose Maria College (JMC), for his part, is not settling for less as he aims for the kiddies title.
He said in the vernacular, "I target the championship even if it's my first time to reach the national finals."
The diminutive son of Wilson, a pastor, and Eleonor, a housewife, also marked his first time to ride a plane yesterday.
Huge cash prizes and creatively-designed trophies await winners of the event sanctioned by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP).
SNYACC has helped produced several grand masters, international masters and national masters.