Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates on a roll in PCAP online chess tournament
By Marlon Bernardino
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 13 Mar 2022
MANILA---The Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates had another stellar performance in the 2022 Professional Chess Association of the Philippines All-Filipino Conference online chess tournament virtually held through Chess.Com Platform Saturday night, March 12, 2022.
The Fianchetto Checkmates opened the double-header matches with a 12-9 domination over Negros Kingsmen followed by a 11.5-9.5 rout of Iloilo Kisela Knights.
The Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates which is being supported by Congressman Ace Barbers of the second district of Surigao thru Engr. Dodjie Morales is hopeful of advancing to the quarterfinals and also vying for the crown despite having no superstar in the line up.
It was a slow start for the Surigao against Negros after ending the first seven playing boards with just a one-point lead, 4-3, in the blitz game.
Lennot Hart Salgados toppled Fide Master Randy Segarra in Board 2, National Master Cyril Ortega trounced Fide Master Adrian Ros Pacis in Board 4, and Rhenz Rheann Auza subdued Ted Ian Montoyo in Board 7.
Mariel Batulan-Romero drew with Adelaide Joe Lim in Board 3 while Fide Master Vince Alaan split the point with Ellan Asuela in Board 5.
Fide Master David Elorta defeated John Rael Morazo in Board 1 for Negros full point.
The Fianchetto Checkmates edged Negros in rapid game,8-6, behind wins by Salgados, Batulan-Romero, Ortgea and Alaan.
Facing the heavyweight Iloilo Kisela Knights, the Fianchetto Checkmates started in a wrong foot losing 2.5-4.5 in the blitz event.
Surigao were victorious in the rapid event against Iloilo,9-5, with two-pointers from Alfredo Rapanot (Board 1), Batulan-Romero (Board 3), Alaan (Board 5) and Auza (Board 7).
Interestingly, Ortega was able to hold with a draw to Iloilo's Grandmaster Rogelio "Joey" Antonio Jr. in Board 4.
Karl Victor Ochoa and National Master Rolly Parondo Jr. beat Salgados and Antonio Chavez in Board 2 and Board 6, respectively for Iloilo twin wins.
The Fianchetto Checkmates now has a 17-20 win-loss record in the Southern Division standings.
"We are in rank 5th-6th in the South along with Toledo City Trojans and hoping to maintain the rank going to the last 5 rounds of the eliminations . The automatic seeding to the quarterfinals is only up to 6th place to avoid the “play in” for the 7th to 10th placers," said playing team owner Arena Grandmaster Rey Urbiztondo.
"Lucky for us that we repeat our upset wins to the top teams in the South. Iloilo with 26 wins and 3 losses, were beaten only by two teams. The top team of the league, Pasig and our two wins. We also repeat our lucky win versus Negros," he added.
"FM Vince Alaan, delivered the big wins today versus Ellan Asuela of Negros and NM Fritz Porras of Iloilo at Board 5. Also Mariel Batulan-Romero’s wins against WFM Cherry Ann Mejia of Iloilo and Adelaide Joe Lim of Negros at the Lady category. NM Cyril Ortega was able to hold with a draw to GM Joey Antonio in Bd 4 in their rapid game. And had Ortega not in panic time, the possibility also of an upset win," last word of Urbiztondo.
The Surigao Team along with Zamboanga were originally the only teams from Mindanao last year. In the second season, 4 teams are now representing Mindanao with the participation of the capital cities of Davao and Cagayan de Oro.-Marlon Bernardino-
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Marlon Bernardino.
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