by Marlon Bernardino

MANILA, Philippines---Nagtala ng magkasunod na panalo ang defending champion Laguna sa pagsisimula ng Inter-Division, North versus South of ng Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) season II na tinampukang Grandmaster Wesley So Cup Conference online tournament Miyerkoles, Hunyo 9, 2021 na ginanap sa chess.com platform.

Pinangunahan ni sub-import Ukrainian Grandmaster Kirill Shevchenko ang Heroes sa pag-giba sa Lapu-Lapu City Naki Warrios, 16.5-4.5, na nagkamada ng impressive wins sa blitz at rapid. Binasura din nila ang Mindoro Tamaraws sa second game, 15.5-5.5.
"The defending champion Laguna Heroes started the day with a stellar outing against Lapu-Lapu City Naki Warrios, 16.5-4.5, and finished the day with another win against Mindoro Tamaraws, 15.5-5.5," sabi ni Arena Grandmaster Dr. Alfredo “Fred” Paez, isa sa pat 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.
Ang 18-years-old Shevchenko ay tinalo si Anthony Makinano ng Lapu-Lapu City, 3-0, at Zejih Merilles ng Mindoro, 3-0, para tulungan ang Heroes sa solo third na nag marka ng 10-3 win-loss records sa Northern Division.
Nagbigay din ng tulong puwersa sina Two-Time Asian Junior Champion Grandmaster Rogelio "Banjo" Barcenilla Jr., Fide Master Austin Jacob Literatus, Woman National Master Jean Karen Enriquez, Fide Master Jose Efren Bagamasbad, Grandmaster John Paul Gomez, Vince Angelo Medina, Kimuel Aaron Lorenzo at Candidate Master Arjie Bayangat para sa pagtulak ng Laguna sa back-to-back win.
Ang United States based Barcenilla ay binokya ang import Vietnamese Woman Grandmaster Le Thao Nguyen ng Lapu-Lapu City, 3-0, winasiwas naman ni Literatus si Joselito Asi ng Mindoro, 3-0, namayani si Enriquez kay Marian Calimbo ng Lapu-Lapu City, 3-0, pinataob ni Bagamasbad si Marcelo Abeleda ng Mindoro,3-0, ginupo ni Gomez si Romeo Resuero ng Lapu-Lapu City, 2-1, pinayuko ni Medina si Neil Adrian Gilig ng Lapu-Lapu City, 2-1, at US master Rainer Labay ng Mindoro, 3-0, tiniris ni Lorenzo si Daniel Minoza ng Lapu-Lapu City, 3-0, habang angat si Bayangat kay Ronald Berdera ng Mindoro, 2-1.
Tatangkain ng Heroes na maipagpatuloy ang kanilang pananalasa ang pag sungkit sa no. 1 spot sa Northern Division sa pakikipagtapat sa Negros Kingsmen at Palawan Queen's Gambit sa Sabado, Hunyo 12, 2021.
Ang iba pang miyembro ng winning Laguna Heroes chess team na suportado ng Greatech Philippines, Inc., SDC Global Choice, Jolly Smile Dental Clinic, KALARO at Rotary Club of Nuvali ay sina Arena Grandmaster Fred Paez, Mr. David Nithyananthan ng KALARO, Engr. Benjamin Dy ng SDC Global Choice at Engr. Jonathan Mamaril ng Oregon, USA.-Marlon Bernardino-

(Northern Division)
1  San Juan (11-2 win-loss-record)
2 Manila (11-2)
3  Laguna (10-3 )
4-5 Caloocan ( 9-4)
4-5 Antipolo (9-4)
6 Isabela (8-5)
7 Pasig (7-6)  
8-9 Cagayan (5-8)
8-9 Cavite (5-8)
10 Quezon (3-10)
11 Rizal (1-12)  
12 Olongapo (0-13)
(Southern Division)
1-2  Camarines (12-1)
1-2 Cordova (12-1)
3-4 Iloilo (10-3)
3-4 Toledo (10-3)
5 Zamboanga (8-5)
6 Negros (7-6)
7 Lapu-Lapu (5-8)
8 Palawan (4-9)
9-10 Surigao (3-10)
9-10 Cebu (3-10)
11 Mindoro (2-11)
12 Iriga (1-12)