IM and last year’s Asian Zonal champion Ronald Dableo sparked the Filipinos’ romp with a 45-move victory over FM Nicholas Chan of Malaysia in a Benko Gambit opening then GMs Eugene Torre and Joey Antonio followed suit with emphatic victories over IM Nathanael Situru of Indonesia (47-Owens Defense) and Vietnamese FM Dinh Duc Trong (46-Modern Defense), respectively.
Untitled Oliver Barbosa and FM Oliver Dimakiling completed the sweep with victories over Myanmar IM Myo Naing and FM Nicholas Chan of Malaysia, respectively.
The five RP chessers also shared the early lead in the individual standard event.
The national women’s squad, determined to improve on its bronze medal finish in Vietnam, also debuted on a bright note with Enerose Magno, making her first SEAG appearance, beating WFM Tran Thi Kim Loan of Vietnam in 54 moves with a King’s Indian Attack.
WIM Beverly Mendoza defeated fellow Filipino Aices Salvador with a Bird’s Defense opening in 46 moves while WFM Sheerie Joy Lomibao and Sherliza Cua halved the points with top-seed WGM Nguyen Thi Thanh An of Vietnam and WFM Hue Luong Minh of Vietnam, respectively.
"We hope to beat that record, at least secure a gold," said RP women’s coach IM Rodolfo Tan Cardoso, who hopes to draw big games from Magno, sisters Sherily and Sherliza Cua and Catherine Pereña.
Meanwhile, Torre clashes with Barbosa and Dableo faces Dimakiling in round two matches being played at presstime. Antonio battles Indonesia GM Edhi Handoko on the other board.
Lomibao and Mendoza are also expected to hurdle their second round assignments against Indonesian and Singaporean rivals, respectively, while Salvador, 16, guns for a win against Win Thwe Win of Myanmar. Cua takes on Aye Win Thandar of Myanmar in the other match.