The Checkmates beat former PCAP champions Laguna Heroes and San Juan Predators, respectively.
Led by Lennon Hart Salgados and FM Vince Alaan, the Checkmates beat inaugural All-Filipino champion Heroes, 15-6, and two-time champion Predators, 12.5-8.5.
With their huge wins, the Checkmates are now tied with Negros Kingsmen for third at 11-4.
Checkmates playing owner Arena Grand Master Rey Urbiztondo is confident his team will perform well this year against the other top team in PCAP, which is already in its second year.
The National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) recently bestowed an honorary National Master title to Urbiztondo for actively promoting chess in Mindanao.
The award recognizes individuals whose advocacy promotes chess in their respective regions by actively supporting several chess programs and activities through sponsorship and donation, which somehow help the aspiration of Filipino players, especially the youth. likewise, in general, the whole Philippine Chess Community," NCFP said on its official Facebook page.
Urbiztondo is happy and proud to be given the honorary NM ranking.
As the owner of the Checkmates, Urbiztondo is giving a form of livelihood to some chess players in Mindanao in the PCAP tournaments.
Aside fom Urbiztondo, the team is managed by Engr. Dodjie Morales and sponsored by Congressman Robert Ace Barbers.
PCAP is the first professional chess league in the Philippines wherein the players are provided with salary and incentives from the team they are playing, just like in other professional sports like the PBA.
Urbiztondo is also busy organizing chess tournaments to allow Mindanao players to participate and earn if they win. (Romeo Braceros Jr.)
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