THE chess wizards from Toledo City remained perfect after five rounds to lead the 2nd Boy “Chessmoso” Pestaño Memorial Team Chess Tournament at the Barracks Chess Club, Robinsons’ Galleria Cebu yesterday.

Toledo City scored 5 points after five rounds thanks to Christopher Tubalado, Carlos Trocio, and Bonn Rainauld Tibod to lead the 9-round Swiss tournament organized by Cebu Executives and Professionals Chess Association (Cepca) as part of the club’s 28th anniversary.

The team had a total individual score of 11 points. Tubalado had 4 points, while Trocio and Tibod had 3.5 points each

Toledo City broke away from the other teams after beating Team Let’s Relax Spa in the fifth round with two wins in three matches. Tibod beat Fame Fazon, Tubalado edged out Ruel Nuttal, while Trocio lost to Joseph Caballes. Toledo City’s other victims were Team Backstreet Boys (3-0), AIM Coop (2-1), Malabuyoc (2-1) and Team KKK (2-1) in the first to fourth rounds.

Team Star Wars, Danao City Chess Club, KKK, Cepca B, San Fernando and Cepca B shared second place and trails Toledo City by 4.0 points.

The tournament, which issanctioned by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP), attracted a total of 168 players spread over 56 teams in the two-day tournament.

Cepca president Engr. Jerry Maratas said this was one of the major tournaments for Cepca in honor of the club’s founding president, the late Pestaño.

“The board has decided to make this also an anniversary tournament. We had a very good turnout. We exceeded expectation. We also have out-of-town participants,” he said.

The champion team will win P25,000, the second placer gets P15,000 and the third placer earns P10,000. (RSC)