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Northern Mindanao chessers vowed to give their counterparts from Surigao City a tough challenge when the 2021 Mindanao Chess Tour Friendship Online Games showdown resumes on Saturday, August 14.
The Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates crushed the selection team of Caraga region, 44-12, with at least nine of their players scoring a perfect 4 points apiece in the 14-board chess team competition.
Unbeaten was Arena Grand Master Henry Lopez, Lennon Hart Salgados, Tyrone Alaan, Cyrus Donasco, Rogelio Canoy, Roberto Reyna, Antonio Chavez Jr, Fr. Vic Arellano, and Checkmates team owner and Arena International Master Rey Urbiztondo.
“Kaya kaayo namo sila tapatan sa among linyada,” warned Mindanao’s top non-master Johnnel Balquin, who formed the Region 10 squad anchored by the top pawn pushers from Iligan, Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental, and Cagayan de Oro.
(We’re capable enough to beat them with our roster.)
Joining Balquin in the Northern Mindanao team are International Master Richelieu Salcedo III, Fide Master Rustum Tolentino, National Master Levi Mercado, Nazario Ubanan, Jaime Joshua Frias II, Christian Arroyo, Romeo Canino, Adrian Yulo, Ronald Canino, Choy Dalauta, Cleto Vasquez, Clement Valledor, Mary Joy Tan, and Amizel Jane Gicole.
The Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates – fortified by Grandmaster Enrico Sevillano, National Master Jonathan Tan, Fide Master Vince Alaan, Engineer Allan Diez, Joselito Serna, Jessa Mae Lisondra, and Zsuzsa Tabudlong – are one 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 reach the quarterfinals of PCAP’s recently-concluded second conference.
Event promoter Urbiztondo said that with the euphoria brought by the 2020 Summer Olympic Games, it was wise for the chess aficionados in Mindanao to initiate an online chess tournament and reach out to a wide range of participation from grassroots talents in the provinces.
“Sooner or later, the Tokyo Games which provided us entertainment at home through cyber viewing will be history. And then, the pandemic is very stressful. We need an avenue to keep our sanity while continuing the development of chess in Mindanao,” said Urbiztondo.
He said that in preparation for PCAP’s third conference, the Surigao Checkmates would conduct more chess matches in Mindanao every Saturday.
After a battle royale with Northern Mindanao, the Fianchetto Checkmates will pit wits against their Southern Mindanao-Davao counterparts on August 21 and Western Mindanao-Zamboanga on August 28.
Helping Urbiztondo in organizing the Mindanao series matches are Caraga’s Jun Cabiguin and Bobot Medrano, and Northern Mindanao’s engineer Jun Gunayan with the assistance of Arellano as well as International Arbiter James Infiesto of Southern Mindanao-Davao, and professor Rey Reyes of Western Mindanao-Zamboanga. – Rappler.com
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