Pre-PCAP online chess team duel tonight, August 14 at 7 pm
By Lynde Salgados
Correspondent
NORTHERN Mindanao team is favored to beat the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines’ Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates in their online showdown tonight, August 14 starting at 7 pm via the chess.com site.
This, after the Region 10 chessers improved their lineup prior to the much-awaited match on 14 boards for the 2021 Mindanao Chess Tour Friendship Online tourney.
The upgraded Northern Mindanao squad of team skipper Domingo Oga will be anchored by NM Levi Mercado, FM Rustum Tolentino, Johnnel Balquin, Nazario Ubanan, Jaime Frias, Christian Arroyo, Romeo Canino, Adrian Yulo, Ronald Canino, James Adrian Sabo, Choy Dalauta, Cleto Vasquez , Clement Valledor, Mary Joy Tan and Aizel Jane Gicole with Mario Arroyo, Ruelle Canino, Alfred Rapanot and Arbz Calido as reserves.
“I think it will be a good match with fair chances for both teams. Maayo sab ni nga tune-up sa amo kay very strong ang kontra,” said Surigao team owner in Arena International Master (AIM) Rey Urbiztondo
The Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates crushed the selection team of the Caraga Region, 44-12 last weekend with at least nine of their players scoring with a perfect 4 points each.
Unbeaten were Arena Grand Master (AGM) Henry Lopez, Lennon Hart Salgados, Tyrone Alaan, Cyrus Donasco, Rogelio Canoy, Roberto Reyna, Antonio Chavez Jr., Fr. Vic Arellano, and AIM Urbiztondo
The Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates, also solidified by Grandmaster Enrico Sevillano, NM Jonathan Tan, FM Vince Alaan, Engr. Allan Diez, Joselito Serna, Jessa Mae Lisondra, and Zsuzsa Tabudlong, are some of Mindanao’s two official team entries in the first-ever Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) tournament.
The FC Checkmates, along with the Zamboanga Sultans, were able to make it to the quarterfinals of PCAP’s recently-concluded second conference. Thus, the Mindanao tour will serve as their serious preparation for the PCAP’s 3rd Conference.
After Northern Mindanao, the Fianchetto Checkmates will play with the Southern Mindanao/Davao on Aug. 21 and Western Mindanao/Zamboanga on Aug. 28.
A total of P5,000 in cash prizes await the winners and losers in the Southern and Northern Mindanao Games with another P3,000 guaranteed for the Western Mindanao/ Zamboanga match-up.
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