So tows Tagaytay in interprovince chess

MANILA, Philippines - Grandmaster Wesley So notched his fourth straight victory, beating Sander Severino as Tagaytay whipped Bacolod, 3.5-0.5, to remain on top with eight points in the 2011 National Inter-Province chess team championship at the Cabagnot Training Center in Kalibo, Aklan yesterday.

So, the highest-rated player here with 2667 rating, outplayed Severino in their top-board encounter for his win No. 4 following his equally impressive victories over Jimenez (Accenture), Rodrigo Atotubo (Iloilo), and Mark Paragua (Misamis Oriental).

Ivan Gil Biag crushed Ellan Asuela and Garry Garcia subdued Marvin Ting to account for Tagaytay’s two other wins over Bacolod.

Joel Pimentel averted a shutout for Bacolod as he salvaged a draw with Allan Cantonjos on board two.

Tagaytay blanked Accenture and Club 64-Iloilo in the first two rounds then trounced Misamis Oriental, 3-1, to surge ahead of the 28-team field.

Defending champion LWUA-Quezon City A edged Cabuyao-Laguna, 2.5-1.5, to remain at second with seven points despite GM John Paul Gomez’s draw with Roderick Nava and the loss of Ted Ian Montoyo to Rodolfo Panopio.

Jayson Salubre and Mari Joseph Turqueza delivered the points for LWUA-A with victories over Roel Abelgas and Ryan Dungca.

Three teams - Club 64-Iloilo, Peter I. Kimpo-Aklan and DepEd-Pasig - share third place with six points.

Club 64-Iloilo outclassed Palawan, 2.5-1.5, behind victories by Rommel Ganzon and Rosendo Reyes; Peter I. Kimpo-Aklan shocked DAR-Quezon City, 3-1, on victories by Allen and Kevin Mirano; and DepEd-Pasig downed Accenture-A, 3-1, on wins by Jony Habla, Rainier Labay and Ramil Acosta.

Paragua was held to a draw by little-known Riger Sarip as Misamis Oriental settled for a 2-2 draw with Gov. Bombit Adiong-Lanao del Sur in another featured encounter.

LWUA-B, bannered by reigning national junior champion Paulo Bersamina, demolished Bulacan, 4-0; Makati, led by David Elorta, crushed Passi City, 3.5-.5; and South Cotabato, bannered by Cesar Mariano, blanked Capiz, 4-0, to move into a tie for sixth to 12th places with five points.