Standings after five rounds:
9 points—Bacolod City; 8—Rizal, Tagaytay; 7—Palawan, South Cotabato, Surigao del Sur-A, Bislig-DPWH; 6—Tandag-B. Davao-Chadric, Surigao del Norte; 5—Cavite, Laguna, Misamis Oriental West, Kalinga Apayao, Lanao del Sur, Surigao del Sur-B, Davao City, Tandag-A, Misamis Orental East; 4—Compostela Valley, Oriental Mindoro, Misamis Oriental Capitol; 3—Aklan, Bislig City; 2—TPCC, Chessa; 1—SSPSC, Tandag-C

TANDAG, SURIGAO DEL SUR—Bacolod City handed Rizal its first loss, 2.5-1.5, Monday to assume the solo lead after five rounds in the first Vicente L. Pimentel Sr. Memorial-National Inter-Province chess team championship at the Surigao del Sur Polytechnic State College gymnasium.

Edsel Montoya bested Ali Branzuela, while Ted Ian Montoyo subdued Arnel Pinero to give Bacolod the pivotal wins.

National Master Hamed Nouri, Bacolod’s top board player, held his ground and drew with NM Oliver Barbosa in a keenly watched encounter.

Gary Legaspi scored the lone win for Rizal when he beat Francis Glen Panes on board four.

Overall, Bacolod led Rizal and Tagaytay by one point in the matchpoint standings, 9-8.

Tagaytay, led by NM Edmundo Gatus and Raymond Salcedo, dumped Davao-Chadric Bulders, 3-1, to move into contention for the grand prize of P150,000 and trophy.

Gatus, who is taking up the cudgels for Mayor Bambol Tolentino’s squad following the withdrawal of Grandmaster Wesley So, trounced NM Alexander Lupian, while Salcedo bested Dharim Bacus.

Tagaytay’s two other mainstays, Allan Macala and Roel Abelgas, drew their matches against Henry Lopez and Samuel Yu, respectively.

Four teams—Palawan, South Cotabato, Surigao del Sur-A, and Bislig-DPWH—shared fourth to seventh places with seven points.

Palawan routed Misamis Oriental East, 3.5-.5, with GM Buenaventura “Bong” Villamayor, Verth Alora and Roger Seratubias providing the victories in the first three boards.

South Cotabato crushed Oriental Mindoro, 3-1, despite the loss of NM Ernesto Fernandez to International Master Ronalde Bancod at the top board.

Surigao del Sur-A, backstopped by NM Emmanuel Senador and Rodolfo Panopio Jr., edged Cavite-Gov. Ayong Malicsi, 3.5-1.5, while Bislig-DPWH, led by NM Rolando Andador and Richard Natividad, subdued Tandag-A, 2.5-1.5.

Tandag-B and Surigao del Norte drew at 2-2 to share eighth-10th spots with Surigao del Norte with six points. Laguna blanked Chessa, 4-0, in another match.