MANILA – Laguna Heroes ruled Saturday’s match of the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) online chess tournament after ousting San Juan Predators, 12.5-8.5, and Olongapo Rainbow Team 7, 13-8.
“We are hoping to perform better in the following rounds. Our twin wins tonight against San Juan and Olongapo are great motivations for our upcoming matches!” said Arena Grandmaster Dr. Fred Paez of Jolly Smile Dental Clinic, one of the four co-team owner of the Laguna Heroes that include Mr. David Nithyananthan of KALARO and Greatech Philippines, Inc., Engr. Benjamin Dy of SDC Global Choice Foods and Engr. Antonio Balinas of AC Balinas Construction and Steel Works.
Laguna had a convincing start against San Juan as they immediately led 4.5-2.5 in the Blitz category on wins by two-time Asian Junior Champion Grandmaster Rogelio “Banjo” Barcenilla Jr., eight-time Illinois USA Champion International Master Angelo Young and Christian Nanola.
Barcenilla defeated Grandmaster Oliver Barbosa in Board 1, Young toppled International Master Ricardo de Guzman in Board 4 while Nanola subdued Narciso Gumila in Board 7.
Fide Master Austin Jacob Literatus, Vince Angelo Medina and Richie Jocson split the points with Grandmaster Victor Moskalenko, Fide Master Randy Segarra and Fide Master Narquinden Reyes in Board 2, 5 and 6, respectively.
Woman International Master Jan Jodilyn Fronda provided the full point of San Juan after beating Woman National Master Jean Karen Enriquez via default in Board 3.
San Juan’s struggles continued in the last seven playing boards in the rapid encounter as Laguna played with the same intensity as they did in the blitz category, notching three wins and two draws on their way to a convincing win.
Against Olongapo, Laguna triumphed in the blitz game via full points from Barcenilla (Board 1), Young (Board 3), Medina (Board 5), and Nanola (Board 7).
The team also ousted the Rainbow Team 7 in the rapid game on two points by Barcenilla (Board 1), Fide Master Jose Efren Bagamasbad (Board 4), Medina (Board 5) and Jocson (Board 6) for a 3-2 slate in the Northern division.-Marlon Bernardino-
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