IT WAS indeed sad news for the youth wood pushers following Shell Management's announcement that the Shell National Youth Active Chess Championships (SNYACC) will end this year.
Shell retail district manager for Mindanao Arvin Obmerga announced yesterday during the opening program of the SNYACC Southern Mindanao leg at the Annex of SM City Davao that the annual chess event for youth will end this year for good: however, the management ought to continue its pursuit in providing activities for the youth in a new different way.
Three round-one winners, meanwhile, were interviewed by Sun.Star Davao yesterday, and all expressed their dismay as the SNYACC is among their much-anticipated event in the year.
Irish Yngayo, a 14 years old Davao Central College (DCC) student, started joining the said event since 2009 at the age of four years old.
She recalled receiving her first award as the youngest player to compete in the said event, the reason it became more special for her and harder to accept that it will truly come to an end.
"Nanghinayang ko kay ever since naga apil na jud ko ani tapos na-shock nalang ko kay mahuman na this year," Yngayo said, adding that she will choose SNYACC over other national events as it became her stepping stone which build her up to where she is right now.
Yngayo, who is now in the junior category, competed in the Grand Finals in 2014 after she was chosen to be the top female in the kiddies division of the Mindanao leg the same year.
As a tribute, Yngayo will do her best to reach the Grand Finals.
Same emotion runs with 12 years old Jose Maria College (JMC) student Wesley Jovan Magbanua, who also promised his best to qualify in the Grand Finals.
"Nasayangan ug ma miss pud nako ni kay nindot ang experience ug ang chance na maka meet ug bagong mga kaila," Magbanua who already joined the competition for the third time.
For him, this event is also a chance to bring his family from different places apart from acquiring new knowledge each year.
Nathalie Suter, 10, who studied at the Doña Pilar Learning Center, felt sorry for her younger sister who will not anymore have a chance to experience the said event.
"Unta naa pa'y daghan tournament ug unta dili undangon kay ika duha pa lang ko naka apil," Suter said.
Meanwhile, the remaining rounds were still being as of Saturday's press time.