The Dasma Cavite Spartans had to go to Armageddon to repulse the tough Cagayan Kings, 15-6, 10.5-10.5, 2-1, in the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines-PCAP online chess tournament Wednesday, May 15 held through Chess.com Platform.
The Dasma Cavite Spartans had to go through the eye of the needle to advance to the next round. They defeated the Cagayan Kings, 15-6, in Game 1 but found themselves in a 10.5-all draw in Game Two.
Come the extra period, Cavite threw Cagayan when IM Michael Concio Jr. (in photo above), playing black faced Don Tyrone Delos Santos on Board One, and IM Daniel Quizon, playing white, took on IM Ronald Dableo on Board Two. Playing black, Kevin Arquero went down to the third board and battled Jake Tasi Tumaliuan.
In extra boards, Concio drew with Delos Santos in 64 moves of a Queen’s Pawn Opening, Symmetrical Variation and so did Arquero halving the point against Tumaliuan in 55 moves of a Queen’s Gambit Declined, Ragonzin Defense. Quizon lost to Dableo in 66 moves of a Reti Opening that ended in a 2-1 win for the Cavite Spartans.
There are just two additional rules in Armageddon according to Dasma Cavite Spartans coach Benjie Bercadez. “If Black manages to draw the game, the draw is counted as a win in the context of the tournament. So by nature, an Armageddon game cannot end in a draw. Black starts with less time on the clock than White,” explained Bercadez.
Other members of the Dasma Cavite Spartans are GM Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr., IM Petronio Roca, IM Roderick Nava, WIM Kylen Joy Mordido, WIM Marie Antoinette San Diego, FM Roel Abelgas, FM Ivan Gil Biag, Alexis Emil Maribao and Renie Malupa.
In other matches, Manila routed Quezon City, 15-6 and 16-5.
Surigao bucked a tough challenge from Iloilo, 8-13, 11.5-9.5, and 2-1. Davao crushed Tacloban, 11.5-9.5 and 17-4.
The division semifinals are slated for this Saturday, May 18.
Cavite plays San Juan and Manila opposes the defending champion Pasig for the Northern Division semifinals.
Surigao will face Camarines while Davao goes up against Toledo for the Southern Division semifinals.
PCAP, the country’s first and only play-for-pay league, is headed by President-Commissioner Atty. Paul Elauria, Chairman Michael Angelo Chua and Treasurer Atty. Arnel Batungbakal.-Marlon Bernardino-