Unheralded Cavite Spartans sent shockwaves in the opening round of the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) Wesley So Cup by pulling the rug from under the fancied Pasig Kings Pirates, 11-10, Saturday, May 16.
Olympiad veteran International Master Petronio Roca led the charge in the comeback win over Pasig, which boasts of three Grandmasters in Darwin Laylo, Roland Salvador and import Kevin Goh Wei Ming of Singapore.
The Spartans lost the blitz part where a victory is worth a point and a draw half a point, 5-2, but came back dominating the rapid phase where a triumph is equivalent to two points and a split to a point, 9-5.
Meliza Ruth Carreon, Jayson Visca and Renie Malupa delivered the critical wins in the lower boards to help Cavite escape with the shock result.
In other results, Manila edged inaugural champion Laguna after winning their Armageddon tiebreaker, 2-1, while Isabela downed Olongapo, 11-7.
San Juan dumped Antipolo, 15-6; Caloocan bested Rizal, 12.5-8.5; Cagayan defeated Quezon, 12-9; and Camarines clobbered Zamboanga, 16.5-4.5.
Toledo also joined the early winners by toppling Cebu, 15.5-5.5; Cordova outclassed Surigao, 17-4; Iloilo nipped Palawan, 18-3; Negros crushed Iriga, 17-4; and Lapu-Lapu prevailed over Mindoro, 12-9.