The 2nd season of Professional Chess Association of the Philippines online chess tournament has started on Chess.com Platform last January 22, 2022. Laguna Heroes thwarted the Olongapo Rainbow Team 7 by a score of 13-8,
Powered by FM Austin Jacob Literatus, Michella Concio, FM Jose Efren Bagamasbad, Kimuel Aaron Lorenzo, Richie Jocson and Apollo Agapay, Laguna beat their opponents from boards 1, 3 to 7 in the blitz portion to underscore the depth of the Laguna team, backed up by KALARO, Greatech Philippines, Inc., SDC Global Choice, Jolly Smile Dental Clinic and Rotary Club of Nuvali.
Literatus defeated Nelson Busa on board 1, Concio trounced Angel Mae Orijuela on board 3, Bagamasbad won by default over Adriano Valenzuela on board 4, Lorenzo toppled National Master Gefer Imbuido on board 5, Jocson nipped National Master Kim Kenneth Santos on board 6 and Agapay smashed Lou Anton Rivera on board 7.
However, Laguna failed a possible shut out win over Olongapo in the bitz event after board 2 player Vince Angelo Medina lost by default against Gil Conrad Corre.
“Almost every team has tremendously improved for the 2nd PCAP season. Laguna Heroes expect to have a lot of tough matches. We are happy that we won against Olongapo in the opening match.” said Arena Grandmaster Dr. Fred Paez (in photo above), one of the four co-team owner of the Laguna Heroes together with Mr. David Nithyananthan of KALARO, Engr. Benjamin Dy of SDC Global Choice and Engr. Jonathan Mamaril of Oregon, USA.
In the rapid games, Laguna and Olongapo ended in a 7-all deadlock.
Concio, Bagamasbad and Jocson are leading the way for Laguna after beating Orijuela, Valenzuela and Corre on board 3, 4 and 6 while Agapay halving the point with Rivera on board 7.
Olongapo fought the good fight with the big wins of FM Rustum Tolentino, Busa and Imbuido on board 1, 2 and 5 against Laguna’s Literatus, Medina and Lorenzo.
In other matches in the Northern division, defending champion San Juan whipped Caloocan, 12.5-8.5, Cagayan outpointed Rizal, 16.5-4.5, Quezon City dealt Cavite, 17.5-3.5, Pasig subdued Isabela, 12.5-8.5, and Manila edged Mindoro.
In the Southern division, Zamboanga prevailed over Cagayan de Oro, 14-7, Camarines outscored Toledo, 12-9, Davao smashed Surigao, 18-3, Negros clobbered Iriga, 13.5-7.5 and Iloilo waylaid Palawan, 11.5-7.5. The game between Cebu and Tacloban was re scheduled