TANAUAN CITY, Batangas —Seventh seed Mandaluyong City continued its remarkable showing in the 2011 National Inter-Cities and Municipalities Chess Championships by blasting 13th seed Davao City, 3.5-.5 in the third round yesterday at the Tanauan Event Center, here.
The squad is bannered by 12-time national open champion Grandmaster (GM) Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr. and Fide Master (FM) David Elorta.
Antonio bested IM Oliver Dimakiling, Elorta beat IM Elect Edgar Reggie Olay and Francis Glenn Panes routed Harrison Maamo.
Mohammad Sukar salvaged a draw against Jose Vito Tapulgo on board 4 to avert a shutout loss for Davao City.
The team supported by Mandaluyong Mayor Benhur Abalos Jr. and Rep. Neptali Gonzales II, earlier blanked 29th seed Mandaue City, 4-0, then edged 18th seed Far Eastern University (FEU) Manila, 2.5-1.5, on Friday.
Against FEU-Manila, Panes downed Antonio Chavez on board 3 to provide the marginal point in Mandaluyong’s 2.5-1.5 victory. Antonio halved the point with IM elect Richilieu Salcedo, Elorta drew with Sheider Nebato while Tapulgo also split the point with Alfredo Rapanot.
Mandaluyong City’s next foe is 5th seed Bacolod City..
The event, organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) and Philippine Academy for Chess Excellence (PACE) is using the match point format where a win is equivalent to two points and a draw is equivalent to one point. /Correspondent MARLON BERNARDINO