CAGAYAN de Oro pawnpushers, with the addition of Balingasag pride Engr Demosthenes Quina in their roster, aimed high to retain the overall supremacy in the chess team competition.
But with the arrival of Johnnel Balquin and Arian Belly Calido to the Provincial Capitol, the host squad went on to steal the show in the 64-square-board rivalry of the just-held Paglaum Sportsfest as the main highlight of the 94th Founding Anniversary of Misamis Oriental.
Both undefeated in their respective brackets, the guest team Cagayan de Oro looked like it dominated anew the Capitol side in their four-board title showdown when Cagayan de Oro’s consistent scorer Roy Dablo outplayed William Reintegrado on board 3 and the heavy underdog Renan Cantilado enjoyed a one pawn advantage early in the opening against the top-seeded Balquin on their top-board duel.
Despite having two pawns edge after handling the opening well with the white pieces, the grizzled Lorenzo Cuizon could not crack Quina’s defense on the board 4 clash that ended in a draw.
Thus, Team CdeO ― with Dablo and Quina combining for 1.5 points ― needed just a win in the top two boards to secure the crowning glory.
But it turned the other way around to the great horror of City sports officials Romarey Gorro, Ruel Daba, and Roel Sergio Densing who came in full force at the Capitol Chess Park to provide morale support for Mayor RolandoUy’s finest chess players.
This, as the tactical-playing Calido waylaid the newly-minted Philippine National Games silver medalist Jashper Gonzales on board two, and Balquin banked on his vast experience to repulse the seemingly winning Cantilado on board one.
“Mora la’g losing kay nahatod sa two pawns down akong position pero ako ang nag-control sa mga vital squares. Among gi-consult later sa Stockfish chess engine and it turned out nga wala gyo’y dag-anan si Renan grabe ka accurate akong mga tira,” Balquin later told Gold Star Daily.
The Capitol boys of coach Shirov and Noel Paguidopon ended their City Hall counterparts’ chess reign with the final score of 2.5 to 1.5 points for the much-desired championship trophy.
Balquin, Cantilado, Reintegrado, and Cuizon alongside alternates Millard Tero and Joven Berondo also received the P20,000 top prize.
Team CdeO’s Cantilado, Gonzales, Dablo, Quina, and alternate Zacarias Duman-ag got the second prize of P10,000.
In the battle for third place worth P5,000, Medina shocked last year’s 2nd runner-up Tagoloan with female reinforcement in former Palarong Pambansa Myris Piloton Obedencio providing the spoiler role.
After two exciting draws in the 45 minutes and 30 minutes of time control, Medina finally edged the Esmar Estrella-led Tagoloan in the blitz tiebreaker with five minutes and a two-second increment as Obedencio defeated the solid stolid James Babano for the decisive score on board 4.
“Engr Mariz won’t be a Palaro player for nothing. Bisan wala na kaayoy practice, iyang gipilde si Babano who is a strong blitz player,” said a visibly impressed Cuizon whose two previous losses before his drawn match with Quina were handed by Babano and Obedencio.
