FRESH from winning their three-match series over Misamis Oriental/Cagayan de Oro, Team Davao added another feather on its cap by crushing Team Caraga in their first goodwill online chess tournament held via lichess.org recently.
Davao waylaid Caraga, 775-343.
The Davao regulars demolished Caraga regulars, 197-92, while the Davao executives thrashed Caraga executives, 176-108, in the standard chess competition.
In the Random Chess 960, the Davao regulars toyed with Caraga regulars, 194-62, even as the Davao executives overwhelmed Caraga executives, 208-81.
Toril-based Fide master Austin Jacob Literatus led Davao regulars by tallying a total of 39 points followed by Jayson Salubre (34) and international master (IM) Oliver Dimakiling (30).
The team was also composed of arena grandmaster (AGM) Henry Roger Lopez, national masters Alexander Lupian and Elwin Retanal, Irwin Aton, Anthony Mosqueda, Jayson Salubre, Harrison Maamo and John Ray Batucan.
Reserves were Mohammad Sacar, Ruel Nuttal, Jimmy Dano, Carl Zirex Sato, Denzel Amar and Vincent Umayan.
NM Jonathan Tan, for his part, garnered 31 points to pace the Davao executives while teammates Ariel Nino Aton and Jimzon Trangia made 30 and 28 points, respectively. Engr. Allan Diez, lawyer Jong Guevarra, National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) Davao Regional Director James Infiesto, Reynaldo de Guzman, Rhynan Arce, Lyndon Sombilon, and Engr. Napoleon Recososa completed the roster.
Davao executives reserve players were lawyer Melzar Galicia, Alfred Moulic, Arnel Aton, Christopher Yap, Engr. Aglipay Oberio, Homer Rotulo, Cipriano Magalso, CPA, and Dr. Marlon Sayson Jr.
Infiesto said Davao's edge was having rated players in its cast. "First factor of our win was that Team Caraga's lack of high rated players," he said, adding that Davao has top-notch players who are products of various age-group chess programs, the likes of the Aton brothers - Arnel, Ariel and Irwin who came from LA (Leo Avila) Kids program before, and Dimakiling who formed part the LA teams they formed in the past. Literatus, Batucan, Oberio, Tabada, Amar, and AGM Rowelyn Joy Acedo were fruits of the age-group chess programs.
He also attributed the victory to Davao's experience in playing team series competitions just like the ones they had with Misamis Oriental/Cagayan de Oro.