Tagaytay sweeps Indonesian lady chessers

MANILA, Philippines - Tagaytay started strong in the 17th Asian Cities Chess Championships, pulling off 4-0 victories against No.13 seed, all-woman Tarakan Team at the Kartika Chandra Hotel in Jakarta, Indonesia on Good Friday.

Grandmasters Wesley So, Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr., John Paul Gomez and Darwin Laylo swept their Indonesian rivals in one of six shutout wins on opening day to join the early leaders in the event organized by Asian Chess Federation in cooperation with the Indonesia Youth and Sports Ministry.

So, 17 (ELO 2667), dumped Woman Grandmaster Irine Kharisma Sukandar (2354) on board one. Antonio (2589) trounced Woman Fide Master Warda Aulia Medina (2035) on board two.

Gomez (2538) nipped WFM Chelsie Monica Sihite (2039) on board three, while Laylo (2516) crushed WFM Aa Dewi Citra (1994) on the last board.

“So far so good, we are looking forward another banner year for Philippine chess team,” said National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) president/ chairman Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr. who bankrolled the trip of all-GM Tagaytay chess team along with NCFP secretary-general Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino Jr.

“Let’s hope and pray that Tagaytay, Philippines could bring home again the coveted title they first won in 2002,” added Pichay, also the chairman of the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA).

The impressive win put Filipinos in an early collision against 7th-seeded Palembang in the second round on Black Saturday, who posted a similar shut-out wins over 19th-seeded Hongkong.

So will handle white against Fide Master Rudin Hamdani (2368), Antonio employ black against IM Taufik Halay (2346), Gomez will use white against IM Tirto (2337) and Laylo will use black pieces against Jenius Hakiki Kaisar (2251).

In other matches saw, top seed Shi Jiazhuang (China) blasted 14th-seeded Mashhad (IRAN), 4-0, 3rd-seeded Astana (Kazakhstan) blanked 15th-seeded Penang (Malaysia), 4-0, defending champion and 4th-seeded Tehran (Iran) outclassed 16th-seeded Singapore, 4-0, and 11th-seeded Abu Dhabi (UAE) beat 24th-seeded Putrajaya (Malaysia), 4-0.

Meantime, 5th-seeded and host Jakarta who won the title in 1992 and 1994, dealt 17th-seeded Sharjah (UAE), 3-1, with GM’s Cerdas Barus (2443), Susanto Megaranto (2533) and IM Liu Dede (2418) provided the victories for the Indons squad.