LATEST CHESS NEWS

PCCR WINS 2007 CUSA CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP


THE Philippine College of Criminology's Chess Team won its first
chess championship in the 13th CUSA Chess Team Championship held last
November 20 – 23, 2007, at the Police Seminar Hall, PCCr.

Eight teams vied for the title including Metro Manila Colleges,
Central Colleges of the Philippines, Trinity University of Asia,
University of the Assumption, Manuel L. Quezon University, De Ocampo
Memorial Colleges, and FEATI College. PCCr was able to outmaneuver the
others with a total of 25.5 points after the last round match against
MMC. Because of their 3-1 loss against PCCr, MMC placed third overall
with a total of 20 points. TUA finished a close second place overall
with an aggregate score of 20.5 after their last match against FEATI.

Coached by International Master Idelfonso Datu and assisted by
Candidate Master Chiara Lim, crucial to PCCr's triumph were its
dedicated players according to board assignment: Louie Rey Dela Cruz,
Genalyn Miclat, Joel Diaz, Joseph Miclat, Raymond Samones, and Celso
Baldera. Dela Cruz, and both Miclat siblings won gold on their
respective boards while Diaz and Samones garnered silver, losing out
to Isaac Chavez of MMC and Richard Romano of TUA respectively for the
gold.

Last round was crucial for the team wherein Dela Cruz won over Alvin
Occida with 39 moves of French Defense, Genalyn Miclat won over Marlon
Tinia with 56 moves of a Double Fianchetto opening, Diaz lost to Isaac
Chavez with 66 moves of French Defense, and Samones won over Jayson
Jamosin with 31 moves of a London opening.


DAREA TOPS LAGUNA CHESS


NINTH seed Department of Agrarian Reform Employees' Association
(DAREA) Chess Team made a stunning performance by winning the 1st Sta.
Rosa Rapid Non-Master Team Chess Championship held at the 2/F City
Market, Sta. Rosa City, Laguna last Sunday. Led by Peter Lim, Noel De
La Cruz, Samson Lim & Vic Neil Villanueva, DAREA Chess Team scored 11
match points after 6 rounds to bag the P30,000 plus trophy.

Greenlife Chess Team, bannered by Marc Nazario, Julius Sinangote, Jose
Aquino Jr., Norman Madriaga & Joel Cocjin, was solo 2nd with 10 match
points. The team got P20, 000 plus trophy.

Sharing 3rd-6th places in team tourney which attracted 39 teams, the
biggest chess team event, in South Luzon this year, were Deep Green
Chess Team, Tagaytay City Chess Team, Bureau of Customs Chess Club &
Kawasaki Chess Team. They equally divided the total cash prizes
amounting to P22, 500.

Categorical winners were Gov. Lazaro Kiddie Chess Team (Top Kiddie Team),
Far Eastern University Women's Chess Team (Top Lady Team), San
Sebastian College High School Chess Team, (Top Junior Team) & Calamba
City Chess Team (Top Laguna Team). FEU Women's team won the Best in
Uniform award.

Individual winners were Allan Cantonjos of Olongapo City Chess Team
(Board 1), Julius Sinangote of Greenlife Chess Team (Board 2), Samson
Lim of DAREA Chess Team (Board 3), Ricky Merano of St. Peregrine
Dental Clinic Chess Team (Board 4), & Resvin Diocares of Sta. Rosa
City Chess team (Board 5).

(Reports from MARLON BERNARDINO)