Literatus, Batucan bag titles

DAVAO CITY, Philippines - Davao City's Austin Jacob Literatus and Neptali Batucan III captured the kiddies and junior titles, respectively, at the close of the 16th Shell National Active Chess Championships Mindanao Leg at the SM City Davao Events Centre Sunday. Literatus, an 11-year-old Grade Six student at the Don Juan de la Cruz Central Elementary School in Toril, beat Ruel Cañaveras of Panabo National High School via a Sicilian English Attack in the ninth round to finish with a total of 8.5 points. "I'm overjoyed because I became in Shell at last. I'm so thankful to God and to my family. I offer this award to them," said the smiling Literatus, second child of delivery sales man Eusebio and housewife Consortia, when interviewed by Sun.Star Davao after his match with Cañaveras. Literatus, who was competing in his fifth Shell tournament, bested 8.0 scorers Jeazzir Kline Surposa of GSC Sped Integrated School, Aglipay Oberio of Nieves Villarica National High School, Danilo Engay Jr. of F. Bangoy National High School and Patrick Miguel Aquino of Stella Maris Academy of Davao (Smad), who occupied the next four spots. The kiddies top five players received cash prizes. Literatus, Surposa, Oberio and Engay also got trophies and slots to the Grand Finals on November 8 and 9 at the SM Mega Mall along with juniors first four Batucan III, Mohamad Sacar, Jester Andoy and Adrian Dimakiling. Batucan III, a senior High School student at the Rogationist Academy, edged fellow 6.5 scorer Holy Cross of Davao College (HCDC) bet Sacar via tiebreak. The latter settled for the runner-up prize of P4,000 while the champion went home in Toril with P5,000. "I'm very happy. I thank my parents, family and friends for their support. I'll do my best in the national finals," said the 15-year-old Batucan, who stopped Anthony Mosqueda in Symmetrical English in the seventh round. Jose Maria College's Andoy claimed P3,000 while University of Mindanao's Dimakiling had P2,000. Fifth-placer Santi Jarloc of HCDC received P1,000. Sped Bangkal, meanwhile, won the kiddies school most represented with 64 players while UM got the same award in the juniors for sending 21 woodpushers. The other awardees were JMC's Rowelyn Joy Acedo (overall top female player), three-year-old Brandt Harold Buna (youngest player), Little Friends Community Center's Eric Tusay Yngayo Jr. (top eight year old and under player) and UM's May Micayabas (sportsmanship award). Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation got two plaques of appreciation from the So Kim Cheng Sports Foundation, Inc. for its great contribution in the country's chess development. The awards were handed by Dexter So of the SKCSFI and Davao City Councilor and Davao City Sports Council Inc. president Peter Laviña to Shell Petroleum Corporation Sasa Depot manager Emer Operario. Davao City's Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Federation president and City Council chairperson on youth and sports Halila Sudagar was also present during the awarding rites along with Shell retail territory manager Llex Denia. - Sun.Star Davao