Surigao, PH Para chessers eye PCAP 3rd Conference crown

The Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates, now with young blood in its roster, and the Visayan/Mindanao-powered Philippine Para team have vowed to do better in the 3rd Conference of the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) online tournament on Thursday, September 16, via lichess.org.

In the absence of US-based Grandmaster Enrico Sevillano, Davao City’s National Master Jonathan Tan will man the Surigao Fianchetto’s top-board position with new recruits in the youthful pair of Lennon Hart from the Philippine Airforce and NM Joey Florendo from Zamboanga alternating with Tan on board 1 down to board 2 assignment.

“GM Sevillano, who is now a US citizen, was able to play with us because the 2nd Conference is an import-flavored rivalry. But we’re looking good right now with our young recruits that we’re hoping to carry us in surpassing our quarterfinals stint last conference,” said newly minted Arena Grandmaster Rey Urbiztondo, the Surigao team owner.

Completing Surigao’s roster are University of the Philippines’ (UP Maroons) stalwart Aubrey Gallardo on board 3 with Jessa Mae Lisondra as alternate, Father Vic Arellano of Cagayan de Oro on board 4 with Joselito Serna as substitute, and Surigao locals FIDE Master  Vince Alaan, Tyrone Alaan and AGM Urbiztondo on boards 5 to 7 with Cyrus Donasco and Rogelio Canoy as alternates.

The Philippine Para team, mostly composed of Visayan-speaking players with either physical or visual disability, will see action as guest team in the company of the Philippine junior team and the Davao  Executives Chess Society (DECS) that defeated the Surigao chessers during their tune-up match in August.

To be bannered by Silay, Negros Occidental-born FIDE Master Sander Severino, the first Filipino world chess champion who topped the just-held Surigao Open online tilt, the PH Para team certainly won’t be pushovers in the coming PCAP war.

For one, two of Para team mainstays – Henry Lopez and James Infiesto who both hail from  Davao – were just conferred the National Master (NM) title by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP), a feat which Lopez said would boost the whole team’s confidence.

“If we win, then that’s going to be a bonus for us, the guest team. Our intent when we accepted the PCAP invitation was for training,” said NM Infiesto, who is the team skipper.

The team is preparing for the ASEAN Para Games in Vietnam in May-June next year, the Olympiad for Disabled in Russia in August, and the Asian Para Games in China in October 2022.

PCAP commissioner Paul Elauria said the professional league will grant the para chess team a “little bend” with the rules especially for the visually impaired players who need a personal assistant to make the moves, in order to  somehow “level the playing field.”

The team emerged fifth overall in the FIDE Online Olympiad for people with disabilities last year fronted by Severino who brought home an individual silver medal.

Also with the para team are NM Jasper Rom, NM Darry Bernardo, Felix Aguilera, Menandro Redor, Arman Subaste, Israel Peligro, Francis Ching, Rodolfo Sarmiento, Cecilio Bilog, Anthony Abogado, Cheryl Angot, Fe Mangayayam, Jean-lee Nacita, and Cheyzer Mendoza.

Elauria told Rappler that at least four foreign teams – China, Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia – have signified their participation in the PCAP tournament that was won the last time by the Iloilo Kisela Knights of Iloilo City.

Playing for the Davao Execs are NM Reggie Olay, NM Alex Lupain, Aglipay Oberio, Mary Israel Palero, Woman NM Kendi Gonzales, Ella Grace Moulic, Engineer Allan Diez, Lyndon Sombilon, Ariel Anton, Arnel Anton, lawyer Jong Guevarra, Christopher Yap, engineer Napoleon Recososa, Reynaldo de Guzman, Denzel Amar, Giovanni Pimentel, Glen Paclar and Alfred Moulic. – Rappler.com