MANILA – Despite the absence of Grandmaster Rogelio Barcenilla Jr. and Grandmaster John Paul Gomez, the Laguna Heroes thwarted the Olongapo Rainbow Team 7, 13-8, at the start of 2nd season of the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines online chess tournament that was virtually held at Chess.com on Saturday night, Jan. 22.
Fide Master Austin Jacob Literatus, Michella Concio, Fide Master Jose Efren Bagamasbad, Kimuel Aaron Lorenzo, Richie Jocson, and Apollo Agapay beat their opponents from boards 1 and 3 to 7 in the blitz portion to underscore the depth of the Laguna.
Literatus defeated Nelson Busa on board 1, Concio trounced Angel Mae Orijuela on board 3, Bagamasbad won by default over Adriano Valenzuela on board 4, Lorenzo toppled National Master Gefer Imbuido on board 5, Jocson nipped National Master Kim Kenneth Santos on board 6 and Agapay smashed Lou Anton Rivera on board 7.
However, Laguna failed a possible shut-out win over Olongapo in the blitz event after board 2 player Vince Angelo Medina lost by default to Gil Conrad Corre.
“Almost every team has tremendously improved for the 2nd PCAP season. Laguna Heroes expect to have a lot of tough matches. We are happy that we won against Olongapo in the opening match,” Arena Grandmaster Dr. Fred Paez said.
In the rapid games, Laguna and Olongapo ended in a 7-all deadlock.
Concio, Bagamasbad, and Jocson are leading the way for Laguna after beating Orijuela, Valenzuela, and Corre on board 3, 4, and 6 while Agapay halving the point with Rivera on board 7.
Olongapo hacked out big wins of Fide Master Rustum Tolentino, Busa, and Imbuido on board 1, 2, and 5 against Laguna’s Literatus, Medina, and Lorenzo.
In other matches, defending champion San Juan whipped Caloocan, 12.5-8.5, Cagayan outpointed Rizal, 16.5-4.5, Quezon City dealt Cavite, 17.5-3.5, Pasig subdued Isabela, 12.5-8.5, and Manila edged Mindoro.
In the Southern division, Zamboanga prevailed over Cagayan de Oro, 14-7, Camarines past Toledo, 12-9, Davao smashed Surigao, 18-3, Negros clobbered Iriga, 13.5-7.5 and Iloilo waylaid Palawan, 11.5-7.5.
The game between Cebu and Tacloban was re-scheduled. (PR) – bny
