THE Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates after drafting some of the UAAP alumni from the provinces ― Alfred Rapanot and Antonio Chavez Jr of Cagayan de Oro, John Ranel Morazo of Tarlac, and Mariel Romero of La Union ― seemed now heading in the right direction.
On Wednesday, the Congressman Robert Barbers-backed Checkmaters pulled off another upset win, this time handing the GM Wesley So Cup ruler Iloilo Kisela Knights their first defeat in the opening conference of the 2022 Professional Chess Association of the Philippines played via Chess.com online format.
It took, however, the Checkmaters to hang on in the thrilling Armageddon playoff, 2-1 to end the five-game win streak of the Ilonggos led by the 13-time Philippine Open champion Grandmaster Rogelio Antonio Jr.
The breathtaking match was marked by a couple of draws in blitz, 3.5-3.5, and rapid, 10.5-10.5, thereby sending each team's top-3 players into the tie-breaking Armageddon play.
Choosing white with five minutes and only win to count, Chavez misplayed an advantageous position that allowed Antonio to escape with a draw good for one point.
Both handling black with 4 minutes on their clocks, Surigao’s top board Lennon Hart Salgados bested National Master Rolly Parondo Jr and second board Morazo prevailed over Karl Victor Ochoa that paving the way for the decisive 2-1 finish.
“It was such a morale-boosting win for us. Edging GM Antonio and the company is no joke kay underdog kaayo ‘mi sa tapada,” said Surigao team owner Honorary National Master Rey Urbiztondo in delight.
On the same night, the Checkmaters also nosed out the Cebu Niños, 11-10 with lady reinforcement Romero sustaining her winning ways in the blitz and rapid matches after debuting with forgettable results in the early goings.
The double-whammy feat thus propelled Surigao in a tie for second place with Negros, Zamboanga, and Cagayan de Oro at 4-2 win-loss slates in the Southern Division.
The Davao Eagles share the top spot with the Iloilo Knights at 5-1 after overcoming Tacloban, 11-10, and routing Palawan, 16-5.
“We now occupy the No.1 ranking with a better tiebreak over Iloilo (89 to 84), and that was after its stunning loss to our fellow Mindanao team from Surigao,” said Davao team manager Engr Allan Diez.
