Bacolod chessers oust Manda

MANILA, Philippines - National Master Hamed Nouri and Sander Severino pulled off victories as Bacolod Negros/NICA stunned fancied Mandaluyong City, 3-1, in a playoff to barge into the finals of the 2011 National inter-cities and municipalities chess team championship at the in Tanauan, Batangas yesterday.

The white-playing Hamed surprise GM Joey Antonio while Severino shocked noted blitz player FIDE Master David Elorta with a draw with the black pieces.

In the playoff, the player handling the white pieces is given a 6-5 advantage in time but the player with the black needs only a draw to win.

Joel Pimentel secured the win for Bacolod by beating Francis Glen Panes while Jose Vito Tapulgo scored the lone point for Mandaluyong with a victory over Raymond dela Pena.

Bacolod faces Tandag City for the crown.

Tandag leaned on their top players to score a 2.5-1.5 win over Davao City in the other semis match.

Mandaluyong blew its chance as Panes missed several winning lines against Pimentel. He was actually one piece up and had a slight positional advantage in the middle game, but Pimentel managed to salvage a draw at endgame.