Shell active chess: engaging hearts and minds
It is not surprising when we hear stories of chess-playing students achieving success in school, and in life. One of them is newly-minted Woman International Master Mikee Charlene Suede, who has since made chess history as the first Filipina to win the Asian Juniors Chess Championship.
Suede is a product of the Shell National Youth Active Chess Championship, participating in the tournament to further hone her skills. The tournament had been her training ground that helped her become one of only three Filipina chess players to get a GM norm.
“Shell Chess has been my training ground,” beamed Suede, referring to how she achieved the WIM title and the GM norm when interviewed at the sidelines of the 25th Shell National Youth Active Chess Championship NCR leg where she was the guest speaker.
“My cousins and I, together with my dad who had taught us the rudiments of the game, would prepare for Shell Active Chess months ahead. Aside from the experience I got, it sort of became a bonding moment for us as well, and it helped boost my personality. I‘m grateful to Shell for continuing to sponsor tournaments like these for the past 25 years now,” she said.
Suede, now 22 years old, eventually plans to improve on her game and get the two remaining norms she needs for the WGM title by playing in chess competitions outside the country. When that happens, she’ll join Janelle Mae Frayna, also a Shell Chess alumna, as The Second Filipina to secure a WGM title.
Fourteen year old Francois Marie Magpily of General Pio Del Pilar National High School developed the attitude of never giving up. Magpily, this year’s top female performer and overall champion in the juniors division of the NCR leg of Shell Chess, has been joining this innovative competition for many years.
“I’ve been playing to win each game at the start and was lucky to have won the first five games. My confidence was so high that when I faced the tournament’s top seed, I threw caution to the wind and pressed for an early attack. Unfortunately, I lost. So I played more cautiously in the next rounds, settling for draws whenever necessary. What I learned from years of joining this competition -- to not feel disheartened after a loss — has finally paid off,” says Magpily.
Shell Active Chess is open to all non-titled chess players age 7-20 years old. Participants are categorized into kiddies (8-12), juniors (13-16) and seniors (17-20). Players compete in qualifying legs conducted in NCR, Southern Luzon, Visayas, as well as in Northern and Southern Mindanao.