INQUIRER Sports

Top-ranked Argie Lumapac got off to a rousing start in the kiddies division of the Shell National Youth Active Chess Championship Central Visayas Leg yesterday at the SM City Cebu acitvity center.

Lumapac solidified his bid to qualify for the National Championships of the event after finishing the first day with three points to lead the list of 3.0 pointers after three rounds.

Lumapac beat Garen John Monares twice in the first and second rounds and nipped John Earl Kenneth Juarez in the third to tie 30 others with 3.0 points.

Lefa Glier Bensi, Don Gerard Ouano, Hale Jason Sugon, John Kenneth Tabada, Marq Gabrielle Balbona, Jan Cleo Mar Tilus, among others, are also in the long list of early leaders.

Ralph Greg Amarillento, on the other hand, has 2.5 points for 32nd place going into the crucial stages of the tournament.

Meanwhile, Bryll John Arellano dominated the juniors division after three rounds after staying unbeaten for 3.0 points.

The top-ranked player in the juniors side leads a list of 21 woodpushers tied with 3.0 points.

Among those unbeaten are King James Torres, Yuri Cauba, Khier Embrado, Alfer Joseph Fernandez and Kraig Quinain.

Alain Anglionto heads the list of 2.5 pointers in the juniors division followed by Chris Eizel Anthony Lao, Mark Anthony Modina, Dione Patrick Minoza, Jessa Marie Balbona, Ma. Therese Letigo, Ivance Abayan and Lester June Santos.

he also earned three points in his matches.

The fourth to seventh rounds of the prestigious tournament will be played today to be followed by the awarding ceremonies later on.

Ricky Altonaga, the retail district manager for Visayas Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation headed the opening ceremonies of the tournament yesterday.

Odilon Badilels supervised the tournament as chief arbiter along with arbiters Tony Cabibil and Marvin Ruelan. Tournament Director is Alexander Dinoy.

The top three Kiddies and Juniors finishers will represent Visayas in the National Championship slated in the second week of September.