by Marlon Bernardino
MANILA, Philippines—Filipino Grandmaster Rogelio “Banjo” Barcenilla Jr. and import Ukranian Grandmaster Kirill Shevchenko powered the defending champion Laguna Heroes to a 13.5-7.5 victory over International Master Paulo Bersamina-led Caloocan Loadmanna Knights in a battle of Northern division heavyweights in the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) dubbed as Grandmaster Wesley So Cup Saturday, May 29, 2021 online tournament at the chess.com.
The Arizona, US-based Barcenilla, a two-time (1989 and 1990) Asian Juniors champion in India and Dubai and 1991 Bronze medalist in World Juniors championship in Romania, beat fellow Olympiad veteran Bersamina after 46 moves of Italian Game, Two Knights Open variation rapid showdown in their top board encounter.
Shevchenko, who earned his International maMter title in 2016 and his Grandmaster title in 2017 at the age of 14 years 10 months, defeated International Master Jan Emmanuel Garcia after 37 moves of Spanish Opening on board two.
“GM (Rogelio) Barcenilla and our import GM (Kirill) Shevchenko played very well and won the match .” said Arena Grandmaster Dr. Alfredo “Fred” Paez, one of the four co-team owners of the Laguna Heroes including David Nithyananthan of KALARO, Engr. Benjamin Dy of SDC Global Choice and Engr. Jonathan Mamaril of Oregon, USA.
Also delivering for Laguna backed up by Greatech Philippines, Inc., SDC Global Choice, Jolly Smile Dental Clinic, KALARO and Rotary Club of Nuvali were Woman National Master Jean Karen Enriquez and Grandmaster John Paul Gomez.
Enriquez toppled Woman National Master Arvie Lozano on board three while Gomez subdued Rosauro “Juancho” Caunti on board five.
FIDE Master Jose Efren Bagamasbad, meantime split the point with import Malaysian International Master Jimmy Liew on board four and Kimuel Aaron Lorenzo settled for a truce with International Master Barlo Nadera on board 7.
FIDE Master Nelson Villanueva carried the good fight for Atty. Arnel Batungbakal’s Caloocan Loadmanna Knights chess team by beating Vince Angelo Medina on board 6.
It was a tie in the Blitz category where both squads only scored 3.5 each but the Heroes only dropped one and drew two boards to emerge victorious with a clutch play in the remaining four boards during the Rapid category.
With the win, Laguna tied from 4th to 5th alongside Caloocan with a 6-3 slate.
Before the Caloocan showdown, the Heroes faced the Olongapo Rainbow Team 7 and it was a lopsided victory with Laguna prevailing 18.5-2.5.
Matches are played in one blitz and one rapid formats composed of seven boards each.
Based on the scoring system, a win in rapid chess is worth two points, a draw is one point and a loss is zero. Blitz chess result gives one point for a win, half point for a draw and zero for a loss.
The tournament is 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., organized by PCAP Chairman Michael Angelo Ong Chua, Vice-Chairman Ariel Potot, Founding President/Commisioner Atty. Paul Elauria and Treasurer Atty. Arnel Batungbakal.
Photo shows International recording artist Gabrielle Barcenilla, former Olympian Woman National Master Lilibeth Lee Barcenilla and Grandmaster Rogelio “Banjo” Barcenilla Jr.