Unheralded Arquero stuns FIDE Master Turqueza in online chess tilt
Lesser known Kevin Arquero shocked Olympiad veteran and FIDE Master Mari Joseph Turqueza on board two to lift the unheralded 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 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) and bounced back from 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 pace a powerhouse 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, Cagayan Kings, who were coming off a shock 11-10 win over a GM Darwin Laylo-led Pasig Pirates, were sent back to earth after succumbing to the Antipolo Cobras, 9-12.