Tagaytay, Misamis Oriental outduel Panay chess squads, share lead in Inter-Province chess tilt

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

KALIBO, Aklan - Tagaytay and Misamis Oriental continued their winning run by outclassing the chess teams in Panay Island to keep a share of the lead in the star-studded 2011 National Inter-Province Chess Team Championship hosted by the province of Aklan.

Tagaytay team routed Iloilo Club 64 Inc. with Grandmaster Wesley So earning his second straight win, this time, against Rodrigo Atutubo. Joining So in Tagaytay's rampage are Allan Cantonjos, Ivan Gil Biag and Garry Garcia.

Fourth seed Misamis Oriental also toppled 12th seed Antique with Grandmaster Mark Paragua outduelled Rhodel Legaspi of Antique (ELO 2329) in the top board while Christian Arroyo (ELO 2267) and Richilieu Salcedo demolished unrated Von Stevan Aquino and Lou Vincent Baculna of Antique.

With the second 4-0 shutout victories, Misamis Oriental and Tagaytay City tied for first place with eight points. In the third round, So will take on Paragua in the highly-anticipated mach of the tough, nine-round tournament sanctioned by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP).

GM John Paul Gomez, Ted Ian Montoyo, Jayson Salubre and Mari Joseph Turqueza of Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA)-A scored 2-2 over Bacolod-Negros Chess Team to keep the top seed team in contention with six match points.

LWUA-A next opponent is DAR Quezon City led by Emmanuel Senador (ELO 2375) in the third round.

In the battle of Aklan teams, Team F Aklan - John Michael Oczon, Jan Jaeryl Templonuevo, Jonas Legaspi and Naomi Gywn Ramos were subdued by ASU-CIT Aklan - Adream Navarra, Darlene Joy Perreira, Jasper Loyd Salvador and Don Wilson Obido.

Peter I. Kimpo Aklan Chess Team also downed Team B Aklan, 3-1 with the Mirano brothers won their matches in fashion. Allen Mirano nipped Isidro Retino, Kevin Mirano (ELO 2042) clipped Cesar Santia and Jan Francis overpowered Boy Castillo.

Team B Aklan's top board player Raul Fernandez, however stunned Gonzalo Fernandez of Peter I. Kimpo Aklan Chess Team.

Other results : Palawan-LWUA B (2-2), Cabuyao (Laguna)-Passi City (3-1), Dep Ed A-Makati City (2.5-1.5), DAR Quezon City-Bulacan BYCF (3-1), Capiz-LWUA C (3-1), Team C Aklan-Accenture Chess Enthusiasts B (3-1), Gov. Bombi Adiong Lanao del Sur-La Paz (Iloilo) Chess Center (2.5-1.5) and Accenture Chess Enthusiasts A-Team E Aklan (3-1).