18th SHELL NATIONAL YOUTH ACTIVE CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP (SNYACC)

 
The continuing search for future chess stars resumes this month when the Shell National Youth Active Chess Championship (Shell Active Chess), the nation's longest running, grassroots-based chess tournament, kicks off its 2010 season on June 26-27 with an expanded series, guaranteeing another banner year for the sport and exposure for the country’s leading and rising players.
The Organizer, Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation, has added another leg in Mindanao to accommodate the big number of players from the 20-and-under and 14-and-under age groups in the region, making it an eight-stage circuit, spread over the key cities in the country, culminating in the grand finals in Manila in October.

Registration is ongoing with a fee pegged at Php 50. For details, contact the following coordinators: Alex Dinoy at 0922-8288510 or 0916-6882682, or the local coordinators Mariano Cabugos at (078) 844-0513 -Tuguegarao; Joselito Castro at (043) 723-2568 or (043) 723-4246 - Batangas; NM Glenn Artuz at 0918-5051825 or (054) 4750623 - Naga; Odilon Badilles at 0905-597 8096 -Cebu; NM Cesar Mariano at 0919-2833826 or (033) 336-6205 - Iloilo; and, NA Ronnie Tabudlong 0929-2407371 or (082) 300-4260 - Davao. Registration forms are also available at selected schools, chess clubs and municipal/provincial government offices. You may also log on to www.shell.com.ph/shell_chess.

Deadline for listup is one week before the tournament date for both participants within the city and out-of-towners. However, registration ends when the maximum number of 500 is reached even before the given deadline.

Shell Active Chess kicked off last month when Pilipinas Shell, in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd), staged the second “An Interaction with the Masters” or AIM wherein 200 participants, including students teachers, coaches, principals, and parents from various public elementary and high schools in Luzon, took part in the clinic conducted by Shell Active Chess graduates International Masters Idel Datu and Oliver Dimakiling, Grandmaster Jayson Gonzales, and International Arbiter Rolly Yutuc.

This year’s Shell Active Chess circuit kicks off June 26-27 for the NCR leg at SM Megamall in Mandaluyong with the second stage set July 3-4 for the Northern Luzon stage in Tuguegarao. The third leg will be held July 17-18 for the Southern Luzon elims in Batangas while Naga City will host the fourth leg for the Southern Luzon qualifier on July 31-Aug. 1.

Iloilo takes its turn on Aug. 14-15 for the Western Visayas leg while Cebu will hold the Central Visayas stage on Aug. 28-29. The seventh leg will be held Sept. 11-12 in Cagayan de Oro before the circuit winds up on Sept. 25-26 for the Mindanao leg in Davao.

The top three finishers in all legs will advance to the grand finals slated Oct. 23-24 at SM Megamall. Each leg will be an eight-round Swiss system event for the juniors and nine-round for the kiddies. The grand finals will be a nine-round tournament for both divisions.

Sanctioned by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines, Shell Active Chess is backed by Shell V-Power, Shellane, Shell Helix, and McDonald's, in partnership with SM Supermalls, Cagayan Colleges Tuguegarao, Central Philippine University Iloilo, University of San Carlos Cebu, and Cagayan de Oro City Tourism.