Standings after six rounds: (Match point system)
10 points—Tagaytay, Rizal; 9.0—Bacolod; 8.0—Tandag-B, Davao-Chadric Builders, Bislig-DPWH, South Cotabato; 7.0—Palawan, Cavite, Surigao del Sur-A, Surigao del Sur-B, Lanao del Sur, Davao City; 6.0—Oriental Mindoro, Tandag-A, Surigao del Norte, Misamis Oriental East; 5.0—Misamis Oriental West, Laguna, Kalinga Apayao, Bislig; 4.0—Compostela Valley, Misamis Oriental Capitol, Aklan, CHESSA; 3.0—TPCC; 1.0—SSPSC, Tandag-C

TANDAG, SURIGAO DEL SUR—Tagaytay dumped erstwhile pacesetter Bacolod-Negros, 3.5-.5, while Rizal edged Surigao del Sur-A, 2.5-1.5, to vault into a share of the lead in the first Vicente L. Pimentel Sr. Memorial-National Inter-Province chess team championship at the Surigao del Sur Polytechnic State College gymnasium here.

Tagaytay and Rizal have 10 points each, a full point ahead of Bacolod-Negros.

Allan Macala, Raymond Salcedo and Roel Abelgas prevailed over their respective lower board rivals to power Tagaytay of Mayor Abraham Tolentino to the sixth round triumph.

Macala whipped Edsel Montoya, Salcedo trounced Ted Ian Montoyo, and Abelgas crushed Francis Glen Panes even as Edmundo Gatus drew with National Master Hamed Ouri in their top board encounter.

Rizal province leaned on victories by Ali Branzuela and Arnel Pinero over Rodolfo Panopio Jr. and Marlon Ricafort in the second and third boards, respectively.

Beng Largo scored the full point for Surigao-A at the expense of Gary Legaspi.

NM Oliver Barbosa of Rizal halved the point with NM Emmanuel Senador in the top board.

Tandag-B nipped Palawan, 2.5-1.5, despite the loss of IM Rolando Nolte to GM Buenaventura “Bong” Villamayor in the first board.