The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
DE LA Salle-College of St. Benilde made chess history by becoming the first-ever PCAP Inter-school champion over the weekend.
Bannered by FM Narquingden Reyes and Jerich Cajeras, St. Benilde brought down Dasmariñas Integrated High School, 10.5-4.5, to capture the championship and the top prize of P30,000.
Dasmariñas Integrated High School settled for runner-up honors and P20,000, while Ateneo de Manila University clinched third place and P10,000.
San Sebastian College-Manila wound up fourth.
FM Narquingden Reyes outduelled NM Michael Concio, Jr., 2-0, in rapid and WIM Kylen Joy Mordido, 1-0, in blitz to lead the charge of the Blazers in this two-weekend competition organized by the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP).
Cajeras matched Reyes’ feat as he also swept his matches against NM Mark Jay Bacojo, 2-0, in rapid and FM Gian Karlo Arca, 1-0, in blitz.
FM Dino Ballecer also contributed to St. Benilde’s success as he won over Mordido, 2-0, in rapid and drew with Bacojo, .5-.5, in blitz for St. Benilde.
IM Daniel Quizon was the lone bright spot for Dasmariñas Integrated High School as he defeated Nelson Busa, 2-0, in rapid and drew with Narquingel Reyes, .5-.5, in blitz.
Ateneo edged San Sebastian, 8-7, in the other final-day match behind IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia’s three-point binge.
Garcia, one of several IMs in the field, defeated Jovert Valenzuela, 2-0, in rapid, and Mark Dominic Valdez, 1-0, in blitz to power Ateneo.
Omar Bagalasca toppledFM Noel de la Cruz, 2-1, to clinch the win for the Quezon City-based Eagles.
Earlier, St. Benilde outsteadied Ateneo, 12-3, and Dasmariñas High School humbled San Sebastian, 10-5-4.5.
Busa shocked Garcia, Ballecer humbled Gavin Ong, Cajeras downed Leonard Reyes and Narquingden Reyes outclassed Luis Gutierrez to lead St. Benilde.
Mordido and Quizon powered Dasmariñas over San Sebastian.
PCAP President- Commissioner Atty. Paul Elauria and PCAP Chairman Michael Angelo Chua awarded the prizes to the winning teams.