Singapore chessers flex muscle
SINGAPORE served notice of its title aspirations by posting smashing victories over Double Bishop-Bangkok, 12.5-8.5, and Pengcheng-China, 19-2, in the 2021 PCAP San Miguel Corporation-Ayala Land chess championships.
World Chess Olympiad veteran and seven-time Singapore champion GM Kevin Goh Wei Ming and Jimmy Liew shone brightest for the Singaporeans in their early battles against the Thais and Chinese in this season-ending third conference.
Go, the 38-year-old campaigner, who earned his GM title when he surpassed ELO 2500 last year, defeated Thai Filipino import FM Deniel Causo, 2.5-.5, and Li Tian Chao, of PengCheng 3-0, while Liew outclassed Peter Darby of Bangkok, 2.5-.5, and Chen Bing, 3-0, in senior board to lead the Singaporeans’ charge in the Southern Division.
The Philippine Paralympics team, led by reigning IPCA world champion FM Sander Severino and Jerlyn Mae San Diego, matched Singapore’s 2-0 start by beating Davao Eagles, 14-7, and Bangkok, 12.5-8.5.
Penang-Malaysia clobbered PengCheng-China, 18-3, but lost to Olongapo Rainbow, 9.5-11.5, to share third to sixth places with PCAP-Wesley So Cup champion Iloilo Kisela Knights, Mindoro Tamaraws and Camarines Soaring Eagles with even 1-1 win-loss record.
FM Wong Yinn Long, NM Evan Timothy Capel and Eric Cheah led Penang’s dominant victory over PengCheng.
The Malaysians, however, dropped a close 6-8 deicision to Olongapo in rapid after a 3.5-3.5 standoff in blitz.
Standings
North
Caloocan 2-0, Laguna 2-0, San Juan 2-0, Pasig 2-0, Manila 2-0, Isabela 2-0, Rizal 1-1, Davao 1-1, Olongapo 1-1, Pampanga 1-1; Bangkok 0-2, Pengcheng 0-2.
South
Singapore 2-0, Paralympics 2-0; Penang 1-1, Iloilo 1-1, Mindoro 1-1, Camarines 1-1; Surigao 0-2 Toledo 0-2, Palawan 0-2, Negros 0-2, Sunrays, Lapu-Lapu.
Schedule October 9
Round 3
San Juan vs Lapu-Lapu, Laguna vs Surigao, Pasig vs Palawan, Manila vs Toledo, Isabela vs Camarines, Caloocan vs Mindoro, Rizal vs Penang, Olongapo vs Singapore, Pengcheng vs Paralympics, Bangkok vs Sunrays, Davao vs Iloilo, Pampanga vs Negros.
Round 4
Surigao vs San Juan, Palawan vs Laguna, Toledo vs Pasig, Camarines vs Manila, Mindoro vs Isabela, Penang vs Caloocan, Singapore vs Rizal, Paralympics vs Olongapo, Sunrays vs Pengcheng, Iloilo vs Bangkok, Negros vs Davao, Lapu-Lapu vs Pampanga.
