Tagaytay paces inter-province chess

KALIBO, Aklan , Philippines  – Multi-titled Tagaytay swept Cebu Province, 4-0, and trounced Laguna, 3-1, to share the lead with Rizal, LWUA-A, Makati and Negros Integrated Chess Association after two rounds of the National Inter-Province chess team championships at the Cabagnot Training Center in Old Buswang here Sunday.

GM Darwin Laylo outclassed Leonardo Alidani of Cebu and then drew with IM Emmanuel Senador of Laguna to lead the Tagaytay team of Mayor Bambol Tolentino to a big start in the five-day competition organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP).

Roel Abelgas backed Laylo with victories over Venancio Loyola of Cebu and Rodolfo Panopio of Laguna.

Rizal, headed by IM Oliver Barbosa and Ivan Gil Biag, edged Aklan-B, 2.5-1.5, in the first round and LWUA-B, 2.5-1.5, to join Tagaytay at the helm with four points.

Barbosa crushed Alfed Acaling of Aklan-B and Alcon John Datu of LWUA-B.

LWUA-A, led by GM John Paul Gomez, beat Iloilo Club, 3.5-.5, in the first round and Palawan, 4-0; Makati, bannered by David Elorta, overwhelmed Aklan-A, 3.5-.5, and Iloilo Province, 3-1; Negros toppled Antique, 3.5-.5, and DepEd-Pasig, 3-1.

Gomez whipped Rosendo Reyes of Iloilo and Trine Olmedo of Palawan to lead LWUA-A to victory.

Top seed Boracay-A, led by IM Idelfonso Datu, scored a 2.5-1.5 win over Capiz in the first round but was held to a 2-2 draw by DAR-Lanao del Sur in the second round.

Boracay-A is tied with Department of Agrarian Reform-sponsored Lanao del Sur with three points apiece.

Cash prizes of more than P300,000 are at stake, with the champion winning P100,000.