Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates extends winning streak to four after thrashing Camarines and Toledo in PCAP 3rd Conference

DAVAO CITY---The struggling Mindanaoan team Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates has extended its winning streak to four games in the second round of the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) 3rd Conference after they beat Southern Division teams Camarines and Toledo on November 11.

The Checkmates lead by Davao's National Master Jonathan Tan and Cagayan de Oro's Lennon Hart Salgados beat Camarines 15-6 and Toledo 11-10.

The win improved the record of the Checkmates to 7-14 for ninth place in the Southern Division.

The win is also a morale boost for the team since it gave them a possible chance to enter the quarterfinal round.

Last November 3, the team upset the Southern division frontrunner Philippine Paralympic 2-1 in Armageddon tiebreaker.

"Lennon Hart and NM Tan's roles in crucial matches were not that easy as they managed to upset FM Severino who is a world chess champion himself," Checkmates owner Arena Grandmaster Rey Urbiztondo said.

"It's gonna be a tall order for us to either duplicate or surpass our quarterfinals stint last conference 'coz we need at least 5 wins in our remaining nine-game assignments to stay in contention. Ubos taas atong mga pag-ampo ini," Urbiztondo added.(Romeo Braceros Jr.)

Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates reaches quarterfinals of PCAP Tag team tourney

                         Photo: Jessa Mae Biteño Lisondra FB account

DAVAO CITY---The Mindanaoan team Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates made a splash in the inaugural tag team tournament of the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP).

The Checkmates made up of chess veterans Jonathan Tan, Henry Lopez, and Joey Florendo performed very well in the tournament and almost made it to the podium finish in the tournament.

In a Facebook post, Checkmates owner Arena Grandmaster Rey Urbiztondo is very proud and happy of the performance of his team in the Tag team competition.

Last November 3, the Checkmates made a splash in the PCAP third conference by beating the Southern division frontrunner Philippine Paralympic 2-1 in Armageddon tiebreaker.

The win is a huge morale boost for the Checkmates since it is against one of the top teams in PCAP and only their third win after 15 matches.

Davao's National Master Jonathan Tan and Cagayan de Oro's Lennon Hart Salgados played here for the Checkmates by scoring the much-needed points to secure the wins.

NM Tan and Lennon Hart won over FM Severino and NM Menandro Redor to get the much-needed win.

"Lennon Hart and NM Tan's roles in crucial matches were not that easy as they managed to upset FM Severino who is a world chess champion himself," Urbiztondo said.

Severino is the 2020 International Physically Disabled Chess Association (IPCA) Online Rapid Chess Championship champion. 

"It's gonna be a tall order for us to either duplicate or surpass our quarterfinals stint last conference 'coz we need at least 5 wins in our remaining nine-game assignments to stay in contention. Ubos taas atong mga pag-ampo ini," Urbiztondo added.(Romeo Braceros Jr.)

Panaboan joins PH men's chess team in 1st FIDE 2020 Online Chess Olympiad for People With Disabilities

 

DAVAO CITY -- A 39-year-old para-athlete from Panabo City is part of the Philippine men's chess team that will compete in the 1st FIDE 2020 Online Chess Olympiad for People With Disabilities in Switzerland slated on November 21 to December 3.

Arena Grand Master (AGM) Henry Lopez is part of the Philippine team that will field two teams in the prestigious international chess tournament featuring 54 countries.

In his Facebook post dated November 3, Lopez expressed joy and honor to represent the Philippines in the international chessfest set to be participated in by chess powerhouses Russia USA and India.

The Philippine team is coached by Davaoeno James Infiesto.

Last June 18, Lopez brought honor to the Philippines after he finished in eighth place in the tough  1st Online International Physical Disabled Chess Association (IPCA) World Championship Israel 2020.

Lopez scored 6.5 points n the international online chess tournament participated in by 118 players from 23 countries.

Another Filipino Sander Severino won the tournament after scoring 8.5 points.

Before his international chess tournament stint, Lopez also got a second-place finish in the Philippine Online Pra Chess Open last May 1.

Lopez scored 27 points to finish second in the tournament featuring some of the top para-athletes who played chess in the country.

Lopez, a veteran woodpusher in both local and international chess tournaments won P200 for his feat.

The championship in the tournament went to FIDE Master Sander Severino who won P300 after scoring 38 points.

The Panaboan is feeling good as of late since he recently made it to the Philippine chess team that will compete in the 44th Chess Olympiad, the very first edition that will feature a competition for the disabled.

Lopez has made it to the team, which also includes Severino, Jasper Rom, Darry Bernardo, and Cheyzer Mendoza.

As the only Mindanaoan in the team, Lopez is very happy to once again be able to represent the country in an international tournament. (Romeo Braceros Jr.)

Davao City celebrate 1st Mindanao Regional Online Chess Team Championship with zoom party

 

DAVAO CITY---The veteran and star-studded Davao City Eagles Chess Team celebrated their recent chess victory with a zoom party online evening of October 31.

The team celebrated their victory in the 1st Mindanao Regional Online Chess Team Championship last October 24-25.

Davao City Eagles ruled the standard chess event after scoring 10 points after six rounds.

The team are composed of Executives: National Master (NM) Jonathan Tan Arena Grand Master (AGM) Lyndon Sombilon, Engr. Aglipay Oberio, AGM Jimzon Trangia, Arnel Nino Aton, Alfred Moulic, Rhynan Arce, Engr. Napoleon Recososa, Reynaldo De Guzman, Atty, Jong Guevara, Atty. Melzar Galicia, Homer Rotulo, Christopher Yap, Cipriano Magalso, Ramil Langamon, Dr. Marlon sayson Jr., and Engr. Allan Diez, Regulars: International Master Oliver Dimakiling, Fide Master Austin Jacob Literatus, NM Alex Lupian, NM Elwin Retanal, AGM Henry Roger Lopez, AGM Rowelyn Joy Acedo, Anthony Mosqueda, John Ray Batucan, Harrison Maamo, Jayson Salubre, Denzel Amar, Kenneth Tabada, Ruel Nuttal, Irwin Aton, Perkins Bayron, USNM Vincent Umayan and AGM Mohammad Sacar.

The team is coached by International Arbiter James Infiesto.

Taking second place in the prestigious team chess tournaments is Region 10 X-Men who scored eight points.

The third place went to Zamboanga Caballeros who scored six points.

All the winners received cash prizes from the tournament organizers.

The tournament was earlier organized to forge peace and camaraderie among chessers in Mindanao. (Romeo Braceros Jr.)

Panaboan para-athlete gets` 8th place in 1st Online International Physical Disabled Chess Association (IPCA) World Championship Israel 2020

DAVAO CITY -- A 39-year-old para-athlete from Panabo City had a top 10 finish in the tough  1st Online International Physical Disabled Chess Association (IPCA) World Championship Israel 2020 last June 18.

Arena Grand Master (AGM) Henry Lopez scored 6.5 points to finished in the eight place in the international online chess tournament participated in by 118 players from 23 countries.

Another Filipino Sander Severino won the tournament after scoring 8.5 points.

Before his international chess tournament stint, Lopez also got a second place finish in the Philippine Online Pra Chess Open last May 1.

Lopez scored 27 points to finish second in the tournament featuring some of the top para athletes who played chess in the country.

Lopez, a veteran woodpusher in both local and international chess tournaments won P200 for his feat.

The championship in the tournament went to FIDE Master Sander Severino who won P300 after scoring 38 points.

The Panaboan is feeling good as of late since he recently made it to the Philippine chess team that will compete in the 44th Chess Olympiad, the very first edition that will feature a competition for the disabled.

Lopez has made it to the team, which also includes Severino, Jasper Rom, Darry Bernardo, and Cheyzer Mendoza.

As the only Mindanaoan in the team, Lopez is very happy to once again be able to represent the country in an international tournament.