Tagaytay Phl halts PSC-Manila for solo chess lead

MANILA, Philippines - Tagaytay (Philippines) trampled erstwhile co-leader PSC-Manila, 2.5-1.5, to grab the solo lead in the third round of the 2013 Asian Cities Chess Team Championship also known as Dubai Cup at the Tagaytay International Convention Center last Monday in Tagaytay City.

Grandmaster Oliver Barbosa defeated GM Joey Antonio, GM John Paul Gomez dominated IM Rolando Nolte and GM Darwin Laylo split the point with IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia to power Tagaytay to victory.

“Good thing I was able to eke out a draw and help lift my team to victory in the match point system,” said Laylo, top player of multi-titled Philippine Army team.

GM Richard Bitoon stunned World Cup veteran GM Mark Paragua to provide the lone win for PSC-Manila.

The win, its third straight, thus gave Tagaytay the solo lead with six points in this nine-round Swiss-system using the match point system which gives two points for a win, one point for a draw and zero point for a loss. 

The Tagaytay team earlier downed Erdenet (Mongolia), 4-0, and Sharjah (UAE), 3.5-0.5, in the tournament hosted by Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, the Fide Asian Zone 3.3 president and the Tagaytay City government, headed by his wife and Mayor Dr. Agnes Tolentino.

Meanwhile, Shanghai (China) and Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia) defeated their respective rivals to share second place with five points.

Shanghai bested erstwhile co-leader Wuxi (China), 3-1, while Ulaanbaatar toppled Shah Alam (Malaysia), 2.5-1.5.

Manila and Wuxi dropped to fourth with four points in a tie with Baghdad (Iraq), Pasay-Philippine Airforce (Philippines) and Sharjah (UAE).

Baghdad downed Seoul (Korea), 3-1, Pasay-Philippine Airforce smashed Bs Begawan (Brunei), 3-1, and Sharjah crushed Colombo (Sri Lanka).

IM Barlo Nadera, NMs Raymond Salcedo and Allan Cantonjos provided the victories for the Col. Vicente F. Flora Jr.-backed Pasay-Philippine Air Force while NM Onofre Espiritu held Kamarunsalehin Kamis to a draw.

In other matches, Dubai (UAE) drew with Erdenet (Mongolia), 2-2, Singapore outclassed Abu Dhabi (UAE), 3.5-0.5, and Chinese-Taipei beat Kuwait, 3-1.

The champion team will get $3,000 aside from the Dubai Cup, while the second and third placers will receive $2,000 and $1,000, respectively.