Tagaytay, Misamis Oriental and LWUA-A take lead in province chess tilt

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

Grandmaster Wesley So (right) banners Tagaytay's title bid against Jimmy Jimenez of Accenture Chess Enthusiasts A. So outplayed Jimenez to lead the Board 1 matches in the 2011 Inter-Province Chess Team Championship / PHOTO BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

KALIBO, Aklan - Tagaytay, Misamis Oriental and Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA)-A whipped their respective opponents at the start of the 2011 National Inter-Province Chess Team Championship at the Gov. Corazon B. Cabagnot Tourism and Training Center yesterday.

Tagaytay's top board player Grandmaster Wesley So (ELO 2667) clobbered Jimmy Jimenez of Accenture Chess Enthusiasts A in 25 moves while his compatriots Allan Cantonjos (ELO 2191)defeated Marc Noel Jovero, Ivan Gil Biag crushed Joseph Padlan and Garry Garcia outsteadied Menard de Ocampo in the opening round for a 4-0 start.

Misamis Oriental's Grandmaster Mark Paragua and teammates also trounced Accenture Chess Enthusiasts B and top-ranked LWUA-A led by Grandmaster John Paul Gomez toppled Gov. Bombit Adiong of Lanao del Sur for 4-0 lead.

Second seed Cabuyao (Laguna) led by Fide Master Roderick Nava hold Peter I. Kimpo Aklan Chess Team for a 2-all standoff. Gonzalo Fernandez bowed to Nava while Kevin Mirano (ELO 2042) of Aklan halved the point with Roel Abelgas in Board 3 and Jan Francis Mirano drew with Ryan Dungca on board four.

Allen Mirano provided the lone victory for Aklan's top team when he outplayed Rodolfo Panopio, Jr. (ELO 2218) in Board 2.

Bulacan BYCF also blanked Team F Aklan, 4-0, with National Master Edmundo Gatus leading the charge. Iloilo Club 64 Inc. of National Master Rodrigo Atutubo outclassed the women's squad Team E Aklan led by Mira Mirano, 4-0.

DAR Quezon City led by Emmanuel Senador (ELO 2375) and Lennon Hart Salgados (ELO 2114) toppled 19th seed ASU-CIT Aklan, 4-0 while LWUA B of Fide Master Paulo Bersamina (ELO 2098) rolled on by beating Dep Ed B, 4-0.

Bersamina outduelled Joselito Castro, Jan Nigel Galan (ELO 2047) handled Salvador Mangalindan, Jerad Docena (ELO 1941) beat Rufino Dionisio and Vince Angelo Medina (ELO 1963) clobbered Nicanor Caneda.

Antique bannered by Rhobel Legaspi (ELO 2329) pounded Team C Aklan. On board one, Legaspi beat Mark Templonuevo, Von Stevan Aquino beat Quintin Ponferrada and Lou Vincent Baculna prevailed over Marben Magdaluyo. Jonel Manzanares of Aklan upset Arnel Amar in board two for 3-1 Antique lead.

Palawan edged South Cotabato 2.5-1.5. Olmedo Trine and Bryll Arellano won their matches against South Cotabato's Cesar Mariano and Xavier John Verdun (ELO 2259), respectively. On board three, Mark Gustillo of South Cotabato outplayed Tommy Escalante while Elnathan Emilio and Josevito Tapulgo halved the point.

Other results: Makati-Capiz (2-2), Passi City-LWUA C (3-1), Team B Aklan-Dep Ed A (2-2) and Bacolod-Negros Chess Team (N.I.C.A.)-La Paz (Iloilo) Chess Center (2.5-1.5)