By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Lesser-known Kevin Arquero shocked Olympiad veteran and FIDE Master Mari Joseph Turqueza on board two to help lift the Cavite Spartans to a 12.5-8.5 win over the Rizal Batch Towers in the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines’ (PCAP) online All-Filipino Conference Wednesday.
Arquero bested Turqueza, 3-1, while Marc Voltaire Paraguya fought International Master Rolando Nolte, who played on top board in the absence of Grandmaster Eugene Torre, to a draw in helping the Spartans nail their second straight triumph.
Earlier, Cavite routed the Quezon City Simba’s Tribe, 15.5-4.5.
The Spartan improved to 2-1 (win-loss) after absorbing a heartbreaking defeat to the Manila Indios Bravos in a match that ended in a 10.5-all deadlock in regulation before losing in the Armageddon tiebreak.
United States-based GM Julio Catalino Sadorra and IMs John Marvin Miciano and Cris Ramayrat led the Manila side.
Other winners for Cavite were Clairevy Estavillo-Marisga, who blanked Enrica Villa, 3-0, on board three, and Jayson San Jose Visca, who routed Marlon Constantino, 3-0, on board six.
Meanwhile, the Cagayan Kings, coming off a shock 11-10 win over a GM Darwin Laylo-led Pasig Pirates, were sent back to earth by the Antipolo Cobras.
The Cobras scored a 12-9 win.
