THE Surigao team was almost there on Wednesday night, blasting the former PCAP champion Iloilo, 12-9 in their first-round encounter. But like in their previous playoff campaigns, the Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates suffered a meltdown in the succeeding face-off to bid goodbye in just the quarterfinals of the 2023 Professional Chess Association of the Philippines First Conference Online Chess Team Tournament.
With Lennon Hart Salgados shutting down National Master Rolly Parondo Jr on board one, 3-0 and so Rhenz Rheann Auza opposite NM Fritz Bryan Porras on board 6 in both the blitz and rapid matches, the Checkmaters smell upset after destroying the Kisela Knights in the opener.
But the proud Ilonggos bounced back in the must-win rematch via a thriller, 11-10 behind the heroics of Parondo and fellow NMs Cesar Mariano and Porras to force a sudden-death Armageddon where games are decided in a lightning-speed manner on three boards.
On the top board, Salgados decisioned NM Parondo but his teammates Carl Sato and John Ranel Morazo bowed down to Porras and NM John Michael Silvederio for Iloilo’s nightmarish escape.
“Grabe ka sayang duol na kaayo ‘mi pultahan sa langit nga maka-abante sa semifinals, pero unsaon ta man wala gyod gitugot sa kahigayonan,” Surigao team owner Arena Grandmaster Rey Urbiztondo told Gold Star Daily.
The complete playoff quarterfinal matches are the following: Southern Division--Negros vs Mindoro, Davao vs Zamboanga, Toledo vs Cam-Iriga, and Iloilo vs Surigao.
For Northern Division: Laguna vs Rizal, San Juan vs Cagayan, Pasig vs Cavite, and Mandaluyong vs Manila.
