So-led Team Tagaytay wins

MANILA, Philippines — The Tagaytay Team started strong in the 17th Asian Cities Chess Championship, pulling off a 4-0 victory against the 13th seeded, all-women Tarakan team at the Kartika Chandra Hotel in Jakarta, Indonesia on Good Friday.

The Tagaytay Team, composed of Grandmasters (GMs) Wesley So, Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr., John Paul Gomez and Darwin Laylo, swept their Indonesian rivals on the opening day.

This put the 2nd-seeded Filipinos among the early leaders in the event organized by Asian Chess Federation in cooperation with the Indonesia Youth and Sports Ministry.

The 17-year-old So dumped Woman Grandmaster (WGM) Irine Kharisma Sukandar on Board 1 to usher in the Filipinos’ rampage.

Antonio, the 12-time National Open champion, trounced Woman Fide Master (WFM) Warda Aulia Medina on Board 2.

The Biñan, Laguna ace Gomez nipped WFM Chelsie Monica Sihite on Board 3, while Laylo crushed WFM Aa Dewi Citra on Board 4.

“So far, so good, we are looking forward to another banner year for the Philippine chess team,” said National Chess Federation of the Philippines President Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr.

“Let’s hope and pray that Tagaytay can bring home again the coveted title they first won in 2002,” he said.

Full article here.