Quezon City A chessers roll to win No. 2

Quezon City A walloped the Palo, Leyte team, 3-0, to serve notice of its title-retention bid after two rounds of the 2003 Naional Inter-Cities and Municipalities Chess Team Championship at the Philippine Science High School Multi-Purpose Gymnasium, Agham Road, Quezon City.

Grandmaster Eugene Torre settled for a draw on the top board as the QC chessers rolled to its second win in as many rounds, following the team’s 4-0 shutout of the NM Vince Alaan-led Surigao team in the opener of the annual tournament hosted and sponsored by the Quezon City government headed by Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr.

Torre halved the point with fellow Olympian and IM Petronio Roca while Rex Ami and Julius Sinangote scored the decisive victories in the lower boards for Quezon City. NM Rolando Nolte was also held to a draw by Fide Master Jesse Noel Sales on Board 2.

Joining the host team atop the leaderboard are Baguio City-Gold Rich and Marikina City-MCF.

Led by Fide Master Fernie Donguines and IM Barlo Nadera, Baguio City scraped past Manila-UST of NM’s Bob Jones Liwagon and Winston Silva, 2.5-1.5; while Marikina City-MCF edged Davao City, 2.5-1.5.

NM John Paul Gomez and deaf-mute Liolen Tubianosa delivered the points for Marikina in victories that negated the loss of Jose Manabilang. The team’s top board player IM Chito Garma settled for a draw with NM Alex Lupian.

Another host team, the Quezon City-UP squad led by NM Elmer Carag, blanked M’lang, South Cotabato, 4-0, to lead a big group of 1.5 pointers which also include Pasay City-PAF, Taguig-PAFCPIC "B", Mandaluyong City, Pandayan, Meycauayan, Caloocan City-Tabilog, Bacolod City, QC B, Taguig PAFCPIC "A" and Tagbilaran City.

Quezon City A and Baguio City-Goldrich part ways when they meet in the third round of the tournament which offers a P200,000 cash prize to the champion team and P100,000 to the runner-up.

Mayor Belmonte and Vice Mayor Herbert Bautista, together with QC Councilors Bong Suntay and Jorge Banal and PSHS director Dr. Rafael Saldana graced last Tuesday’s opening rites. Also in attendance were NCFP president Atty. Mat Defensor and secretary general Atty. Sammy Estimo.