Quezon City, PNP share Inter-cities chess lead

MANILA, Philippines - Quezon City and PNP-NHQ-QC pulled off similar impressive victories to keep a share of the lead after Wednesday’s eighth round of the 2009 National Inter-Cities chess team championship in Tarlac. Quezon City dumped Local Water Utilities Administration-QC-B, 3-1, while PNP-NHQ-QC subdued Valenzuela City, 2.5-1.5, to stay ahead with 13 match points. GM Rogelio Antonio Jr. outclassed Alcon John Datu, Gary Legaspi humbled Mari Joseph Turqueza and Ilann Perez bested Jan Nigel Galan to lead Quezon City to victory. Richelieu Salcedo averted a shutout for LWUA-QC-B when he toppled Jerry Areque on board two. PNP-NHQ-QC struck on victories by Rolando Andador over GM Mark Paragua, Ali Branzuela over Ivan Gil Biag and Horizon Villanueva’s draw with Vic Neil Villanueva. Silverio Abasolo beat Edsel Montoya for Valenzuela’s lone point. Earlier, Quezon City and PNP-NHQ-QC battled to a 2-2 draw in the seventh round, with Antonio and Perez winning their matches for QC and Branzuela and Villanueva scoring for PNP-NHQ-QC. Antonio trounced Andador and Perez downed Montoya for Quezon City’s two victories. Branzuela humbled Areque and Villanueva nipped Gary Legaspi to level the score for PNP-NHQ-QC. Mandaluyong City, led by GM Bong Villamayor and Jan Emmanuel Garcia, outplayed Pasig-Marfori, 2.5-1.5, to join LWUA-QC-B in third to fourth places with 12 points. Top seed Tagaytay City drew with Muntinlupa, 2-2, in the seventh round then won over LWUA-QC-A, 2.5-1.5 to climb into solo fifth place with 11 points. Five teams, led by Valenzuela and FEU-FERN-QC-Inton, share sixth to 10th places with 10 points. FEU-FERN-QC-Inton humbled Antipolo City, 2.5-1.5, in the eighth round behind Sheider Nebato’s win over Jude Ulanday. In the individual standings, Antonio and IM Richard Bitoon of Makati share the lead in board one with seven points. Antonio has six wins and two draws while Bitoon has seven wins and one loss. NM Emmanuel Senador of Calamba is third with 6.5 points on six wins, one draw and one loss. On board two, Jose Aquino of LWUA-QC-A shows the way with 7.5 points on seven wins and one draw, followed by Michael Manago of La Union with 6.5 points (six wins, one draw) and Ali Brazuela of PNP-NHQ-QC with seven points (seven wins, one loss). Board three topnotchers are Sherily Cua of LWUA-QC-C, Merben Roque of Pasig and Paolo Bersmaina of LWUA-QC-E. –GMANews.TV