THE Cordova Dagami Warriors caught the last bus to the playoffs of the All-Filipino Conference of the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) as the eighth seed in the southern division with a 12-22 record.
Although still very early in the Wesley So Cup—the reinforced conference of the season—Cordova is trying to make sure they are in the upper tier of the standings.
On Wednesday, Cordova defeated southern power Negros Kingsmen 2-1, in Armageddon after drawing 10.5-all in blitz and rapid play.
The Dagami Warriors capped the day’s double header with a 13.5-7.5 win over neighboring Cebu for a 3-0 slate, joining the Iloilo Kisela Knights and the Camarines Soaring Eagles as the teams with unblemished records.
Cordova’s Israeli import, Grandmaster Nitzan Steinberg made up for his lackluster showing thus far—he took only 0.5 out of a possible three points in his team’s 17-4 win over Surigao in the tourney opener—by Negros International Master Joel Pimentel in Armageddon.
Pimentel tried to open up the match but Steinberg was able checkmate the former’s king in the center of the board.
Coupled with teammate Brylle Arellano’s victory over American Fide Master Steven Breckenridge, it was good enough to upset the Kingsmen, who finished third in the division last conference with a 28-6 record.
Cordova blasted fellow Cebuano squad Lapu Lapu City, 13.5-7.5, in the nightcap.
“I am happy so far with our showing,” noted Cordova team manager Ariel Potot despite his team’s not yet firing on all cylinders. “We lost a lot of games last conference and with our build-up, we hope to strive for something much better.”
After two playdates in the Wesley So Cup, only the San Juan Predators in the northern division, and the southern squads of Iloilo, Camarines and Cordova have yet to drop a match.
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