PH chess teams off to hot starts in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia—Team Tagaytay got off to a sizzling start in the 33rd ASTRO Merdeka Rapid Open Team Chess Championship 2013 also known as the 10th Malaysian Chess Festival by posting a decisive 4-0 win over Chung Ling X at the Cititel Mid Valley Hotel, here.

Roel Abelgas, Rhobel Legaspi, Edmundo Gatos and Ali Branzuela beat their respective rivals at the start of the annual competition, organized by the Malaysian Chess Federation.

Abelgas, an International Master Candidate whipped Lim Chun Kai; Legaspi, a chess teacher and Philippine Army mainstay subdued Ang Zhen Yuan; Gatos, a national coach crushed Lim Winshen and Branzuela, the top player of PNP chess team outclassed Jason Teh Chee Yung.

The team is hoping to surpass its runner-up finish last year.

Last year’s third placer Sol Marfori-Philippines Team-A, also logged a 4-0 win against Polgar Fighters, 4-0.

The squad, bannered by GM elect Ronald Dableo, FM Leonardo Carlos, Ivan Gil Biag and Li Tao whipped Polgar’s Elson Tho, Dars Hevinthanan, Aden Charles and Ng Jun Feng.

“We hope to perform well in this event,” said UST head coach Dableo, the top Filipino performer in the recent 10th IGB Dato Arthur Tan International Open Chess Championship 2013 which ended last Friday.

Also impressive is Sol Marfori-Philippine Team B of GM Darwin Laylo, FM Deniel Causo, Bength Largo and Marvin Ting who routed  Penang Cloba of Lee Weng Soon, Wee Yuan , Toh Yew and Charlie Wong Chong.

Meanwhile, the Jaya Kumar-backed  KL Chess Kids A of IM Oliver Dimakiling, FM David Elorta, NM Roberto Suelo Jr. and Michael Palma crushed Kids of Chess of Chong Hui Lim, Lim Zhi Thong, Loo Pui Yi and Tara Tatiana.

Other teams with 4-0 scores are Chess Kidz Next Generation of Nelson Mariano III, IM elect Roderick Nava, IM Richelieu Salcedo III and Isaac So; KL Chess Kids B of FM Nouri Hamed, Noel dela Cruz, Jimson Bitoon and NM Stewart Manaog and Jeler Chess Team of Loo Pak Kwan, Emmanuel Emperado, FM Randy Segarra and Jelvis Calvelo. /Correspondent Marlon Bernardino