Mandaluyong chessers win title

Mandaluyong "A" scored a 3-1 victory over Davao yesterday to top the National Inter-cities and Municipalities Chess Team Championship at the Kaban ng Hoyas Auditorium in Mandaluyong City.

NM Idelfonso Datu and Edmundo Gatus provided the points on boards two and four, respectively, as the host team clinched the title after topping the nine-round Swiss System elimination.

Datu, a two-time Olympiad veteran, used his familiarity with the Reti Opening to trounce fellow NM Sammy Yu in 35 moves, while Gatus turned a losing position into a resounding win.

GM Rogelio Antonio Jr., and deaf-mute Liolen Tubianosa drew their matches to cap the victory.

Antonio, the second highest FIDE-rated chesser in the country, halved the point with NM Edgar Reggie Olay, a former national junior titlist, while Tubianosa split the point with eventual board 4 gold medalist Jimmy Dario.

Mandaluyong A, which nipped San Sebastian College in the knockout semis, won the top purse worth P100,000. Davao, on the other hand, whipped Manila in the other semis clash.

Meanwhile, GM Buenaventura Villamayor, despite a loss to SSC’s Ronald Dableo in the elims, clinched the gold on the top board after finishing with 7.5 points out of the possible 9. — Joey Villar