by Marlon Bernardino.
Woman National Master Jean Karen Enriquez beat Jinky Catulay in 73 moves of a Scandinavian Defense to lead the Laguna Heroes to an 18-3 victory over Toledo City Trojans in the All Filipino Conference Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) on Wednesday, February 24, 2021 on online tournament at the lichess platform.
‘I’m very happy with my game,” said WNM Enriquez, former top player of Jose Rizal University chess team.
“I think WNM Jean Karen Enriquez showed good quality of chess today,” said Philippine Executive Chess Association (PECA) president Dr. Alfredo “Fred” Paez, one of the four co-team owners of the Laguna Heroes that includes Engineer Benjamin Dy, Engineer Jonathan Mamaril and David Nithyananthan.
Arizona, US based two-time Asian Junior Champion Grandmaster Rogelio “Banjo” Barcenilla Jr., played black and also scored a win, checkmating Ronald Ganzon on board one. FIDE Master Jose Efren Bagamasbad trounced National Master Carlos Cabuenos on board four, Vince Angelo Medina defeated Richard Natividad on board six and Kimuel Aaron Lorenzo nipped Christopher Tubalado on board 7 to win the rapid section, 12-2, to seal the victory.
FIDE Master Austin Jacob Literatus, meantime halved the point with National Master Rogelio Enriquez Jr. on board two while Grandmaster Joh Paul Gomez settled for a truce with National Master Rommel Ganzon on board five.
The Laguna Heroes backed up by Greatech Philippines, Inc., SDC Global Choice and Jolly Smile Dental Clinic also prevailed in the blitz portion, 6-1, against the Toledo City Trojans.
Earlier, the Laguna Heroes dismantled Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates, 15-6.
With back-to-back victories, Laguna moved into a two-way tie for the lead with San Juan at an 18-3 win-loss record in the Northern Division while Toledo City dropped to 12-8 in the Southern Division.
The Laguna Heroes look to another great performance Saturday night (February 27, 2021) when they face Zamboanga Sultans and Camarines Soaring Eagle.
The 24-team pro chess tournament is organized by PCAP, headed by President-Commissioner Atty. Paul Elauria; Chairman Michael Angelo Chua; and treasurer Atty Arnel Batungbakal.
The games are sanctioned by the Games and Amusements Board (GAB), headed by Chairman Abraham “Baham” Mitra and supported by National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) Chairman/President Rep. Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr.
(Team Standings/ Note: * with pending games)
Northern Division
Laguna 18-3
San Juan 18-3
Caloocan * 17-3
Manila 15-6
Rizal 14-7
Cavite 11-10
Pasig 10-11
Antipolo * 9-11
Isabela 8-13
Olongapo 6-15
Quezon *4-16
Cagayan 4-17
Southern Division
Negros 18-3
Camarines 18-3
Iloilo 17-4
Toledo * 12-8
Zamboanga 12-9
Lapu-Lapu 10-11
Mindoro 8-13
Cordova 6-15
Surigao 5-16
Cebu 4-17
Iriga * 13-7
Palawan * 2-18