Standings after four rounds:
11.0 points—South Cotabato; 10.5—Palawan, Bacolod; 10—Rizal, Tagaytay; 9.5—Oriental Mindoro, Davao-Chadric, Surigao del Sur-A, Misamis Oriental Capitol; 9.0—Kalinga, Cavite; 8.5—Surigao del Sur-B; 8.0—Tandag-A, Comp. Valley, Bislig-DPWH, Misamis East; 7.5—Laguna, Lanao, Aklan, Misamis West, Surigao del Norte; 7.0—Tandag-B, Bislig City; 6.5—Davao City; 5.0—TPCC; 3.5—Tandag-C; 2.5—Chessa, SSPSC.
TANDAG, SURIGAO DEL SUR—South Cotabato made its presence felt in the first Vicente L. Pimentel Sr. Memorial-National Inter-Province chess team championship Sunday, posting a decisive 3.5-0.5 win over Davao City in the fourth round at the Surigao del Sur Polytechnic State College gymnasium here.
Ferdinand Leysa, Allan Cantonos and Cesar Apalla hurdled their respective rivals in the lower boards to lead South Cotabato to a rousing triumph and the surprise lead.
Leysa whipped Vincent Uma-yan, Cantonjos crushed Jerwell Andoy and Apalla bested James Infiesto even as National Master Ernesto Fernandez of Cotabato, drew with Carlo Magno Rosaupan.
South Cotabato has 11 points out of a possible 16 to lead the chase for the P150,000 top prize.
Palawan, bannered by Grandmaster Bong Villamayor and Verth Alora, blanked Lanao del Sur, 4-0, while Bacolod, headed by NM Hamed Nouri and Edsel Montoya, outclassed host Tandag-A, 3-1.
