by Marlon Bernardino
MANILA, Philippines---Muling pinatunayan ng defending champion Laguna Heroes ang kanilang superiority sa larangan ng Ajedrez nitong Lunes Monday, Hunyo 21, 2021 sa pagpapatuloy ng Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) sa inter-division play on online tournament na tinampukang Grandmaster Wesley So Cup matapos pabagsakin ang Cebu City Machers, 16-5, at Cordova Dutchess Dagami Warriors, 12.5-8.5, na ginanap sa chess.com platform.

"The defending champion Laguna Heroes start the double-header with a 16-5 beating of Cebu City Machers and followed it up with 12.5-8.5 victory against the Cordova Dutchess Dagami Warriors to improve to a 17-4 record.We feel very good. We did well in both matches. " sabi ni Dr. Fred Paez, isa sa apat na co-team owner ng Laguna Heroes na kinabibilangan nina Mr. David Nithyananthan ng KALARO, Engr. Benjamin Dy ng SDC Global Choice at Engr. Jonathan Mamaril ng Oregon, USA.
Suportado ng Greatech Philippines, Inc., SDC Global Choice, Jolly Smile Dental Clinic, KALARO at Rotary Club of Nuvali ay tinalo ng Laguna chess team dominated Cebu sa first match.
Panalo ang Heroes sa blitz game courtesy nina 2-time Asian Junior Champion Grandmaster Rogelio "Banjo" Barcenilla Jr.(Board 1), Fide Master Austin Jacob Literatus (Board 2), Woman National Master Jean Karen Enriquez (Board 3), Grandmaster John Paul Gomez (Board 5), Vince Angelo Medina (Board 6) at Kimuel Aaron Lorenzo (Board 7).
Siniguro ng Laguna team na mananalo sa kanilabg match matapos mamayagpag din sa rapid category sa pagtala ng impirtanteng panalo nina Barcenilla (Board 1), Enriquez (Board 3), Gomez (Board 5), Medina (Board 6) at Lorenzo (Board 7).
Naduplika ng Laguna ang kanilang solid performance, Laguna matapos payukuin naman ang Cordova. Matapos ang 3.5-3.5 deadlock ng Heroes sa blitz game ay nangibabaw ang Laguna sa rapid event sa pagtulak ng tagumpay nina Sub-Import Ukrainian Grandmaster Kirill Shevchenko (Board 1), Fide Master Jose Efren Bagamasbad (Board 4), Gomez (Board 5), Lorenzo (Board 7) at draw mula kay Barcenilla (Board 2) para ihatid ang kanilang koponan sa tagumpay kung saan ang Heroes ay nakisalo sa third sa Caloocan Load Manna Knights na may identical 17-4 win-loss records.
Target ng Heroes na maipagpatuloy ang kanilang pananalasa at pagsungkit sa no. 1 spot sa Northern Division sa pakikiharap sa Iloilo Kisela Knights at Iriga City Oragons sa Miyerkoles, Hunyo 23, 2021.
Sa iba pang resulta ay tinalo ng San Juan Predators ang Negros Kingsmen, 18-3, at Palawan Queen's Gambit, 17-4, winasiwas ng Manila Indios Bravos ang  Cordova Dutchess Dagami Warriors, 12.5-8.5, at Iloilo Kisela Knights, 14-7, namayani ang Caloocan Load Manna Knights sa Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates, 17-4, at Toledo City Trojans, 12-9, ungos ang Zamboanga Sultans sa Cavite Spartans, 13.5-7.5, at pagwasak sa Cagayan Kings, 17.5-3.5, tinuklaw ng Antipolo Cobras ang Palawan Queen's Gambit, 12-9, at Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates,14-7, kinaldag ng Camarines Soaring Eagle ang Isabela Knight Raiders, 16-5, at Cavite Spartans, 14-7, panalo ang Pasig City King Pirates kontra sa Iriga City Oragons, 13-8, at Lapu-Lapu City Naki Warriors, 13.5-7.5, at nakalusot ang Quezon City Simba's Tribe kontra sa Lapu-Lapu City Naki Warriors, 11-10, at Mindoro Tamaraws, 11.5-9.5.-Marlon Bernardino-
Photo shows Grandmaster John Paul Gomez