Team Bacalso leads PICPA chess

CEBU, Philippines - Team Bacalso sets the early pace in a strong field of nine teams after the first two rounds of action in the 3rd Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA)-Cebu Sinulog Open Chess Tournament yesterday at the Deep Blue 'd Woodpushers Chess club in SM City-Cebu.

Team Bacalso composed of Edcel Montoya, Bonn Tibod, Bryle Arellano and Jimmy Bacalso scored a 4-0 shutout of the Barracks squad manned by NM Leonardo Alidani, Jerish Velarde, and Peterson Sia, then fought to a 2-2 draw with the equally-tough Chess Masters of NM Merben Roque, Richard Natividad, Michael Pagaran, and Carlo Maraat to come up with a total of 6.0 points, by far the highest in the 9-round Swiss system competition.

At close second with 5.5 points is Team Gypsy, manned by FIDE Master Anthony Makinano, Voltaire Sevillano, Ronald Ganzon, and Vincent Balena. They opened their campaign with a 3.5-.5 win over Ahedrez, then settled for a 2-2 deadlock with the HLO-DPWH of Rommel Ganzon, Alan Salientes, Joey Ardiente, and Tony Cabibil.

HLO-DPWH currently runs at third place with 5.0 points, largely due to their 3-1 upset of defending champion Casa Ilongga in the opening round.Casa Ilongga, comprised of International Master Kim Yap, Rogelio Enriquez, Joel Pacuribot, and Rodrigo Ababat, stands with 4.0 points. After that stunning loss to HLO-DPWH, they bounced back with a 3-1 whipping of Team Barracks.

Also with 4.0 points is the Bureau of Internal Revenue of NM Arnold Cadiz, Christian Yves Fiel,  Vicmil Pepito, and Ivan Quijano.  The BIR pawnpushers lost to Team Balbona of Carlos Moreno III, Rhenzi Kyle Sevillano, and the father and son partner of Felix Balbona, Felix Shaun Balbona, but rebounded with a 3-1 victory over Ahedrez.

The two-day tilt that offers P12,000 in cash prize to the champion winds up today with five rounds on tap. The games are supervised by FIDE Arbiter Marvin Y. Ruelan.— EBV (FREEMAN)