THE Davao Chess Wizards sustained their winning ways to keep the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) Southern Division lead in a tie with the Iloilo Kisela Knights after eight rounds.
Both holding a 7-1 win-loss slate, the Dabawenyos, however, edged the Ilonggos with superior tiebreak results at 123.5 to 110.5 points.
This, as the Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates suffered sweeping debacles to their fellow Mindanao-based rivals with the returning Zamboanga Sultans the latest to hand them a 12-9 defeat.
A 16-5 rout of Tacloban in their last outing on Saturday night had quickly put back Surigao in a tie for second place with Negros and Zamboanga at 5-3.
The Dabawenyos hurdled their double-header assignments in a lopsided manner over the Iriga Oragon, 19.5-1.5 and Cagayan de Oro Higalas, 15-6 to remain at the top.
Fide Masters Sander Severino and Roel Abelgas, Arena Grandmaster Rowelyn Joy Acedo, and National Masters Alexander Lupian, Jonathan Tan, Henry Roger Lopez, and James Infiesto showed no mercy for Davao’s cause as they blanked Iriga, 14-0 in the rapid play.
The Dabawenyos were also impressive in blasting the Higalas in the rapid contest, 11-3 with only Jaime Joshua Frias II producing a win and Mario Arroyo a draw for Cagayan de Oro’s side.
“Nahurot gyod kami sa Mindanao teams, though our consolation was our upset wins against Negros and Iloilo nga maoy kusog sa Southern division. Anyway, mabalik pa namo’g dula and Davao, Zamboanga and Cagayan de Oro sa second round-robin phase,” Surigao team owner Honorary National Master Rey Urbiztondo told Gold Star Daily.
