Bulacan, GenSan squads share chess lead

Standings after four rounds:

8.0 points—Novelty Chess Club-Bulacan, Gensan Omicrons; 7.0—Property Expert Realty-B, Elegant Houses in Pampanga, Cotabato Province; 6.0—Nurjay Sahali Team A, NICA Team Ilonggo, Team Larry Dumadag, SLVP Chess Team, Novelty School of Chess Quezon City, Pacman Team C, Aton Brothers, Pacman Team A, Dimachintucan Team, Bobby Pacquiao C, Elman Team  A, 5.0—Babablacksheep, Tagaytay City Chess Club, Team Cong. Anthony Del Rosario, Tagaytay City, BATT, Tanza Belvedre, Novelty Chess Club-Quezon City

GENERAL SANTOS CITY—Novelty Chess Club-Bulacan and Gensan Omicrons downed their respective foes yesterday and shared the lead after four rounds of the P2-million Bobby D. Pacquiao Random Chess Tournament at SM City here.

Third-ranked NCC-Bulacan whipped Elman Team A, 3.5-0.5, while 19th seed Gensan stunned top seed B. Pacquiao C, 2.5-1.5, to raise their totals to 8.0 match points.

Novelty Chess Club struck through Marc Christian Nazario, Kelly Rancap and Louie Salvador who bested Fide Master Nelson Mariano IV, Chester Caminong and Idol Kamaludin in that order. NM Roel Filipinas was held to a draw by NM Efren Bagamasbad of Elman in their board one tussle.

“Our boys are doing well and we hope to stay that way,” said Novelty coach Richard Dela Cruz.

Though IM Richielieu Salcedo bowed to GM Jayson Gonzales in board one, Gensan rallied through Sheider Nebato and Dellon Intela.

Nebato beat Alfredo Rapanot while Intela subdued Elnathan Emilio. John Michael Parrenas of Gensan drew with Kevin Mirano in board 3.

Trailing Novelty Chess Club and Gensan Omicson with 7.0 points each are Cotabato, Elegant Houses in Pampanga, and Property Expert Realty-B.

Cotabato trounced Property Expert Realty-A, 3-1, while the GM Darwin Laylo-led Elegant Houses whipped Team Cong. Anthony Del Rosario, 3-1.