PALAWAN Queen’s Gambits celebrated International Women’s Month with a dramatic 12-9 upset victory over the Lapu-Lapu Naki Warriors in the 2021 Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) All-Filipino tournament.
WIM Mikee Charlene Suede carried the fight for the all-female Queen’s Gambits team against the highy-favored Naki Warriors on the first day of the second round of the same-division series in the prestigious competition organized by PCAP and sanctioned by the Games and Amusements Board (GAB).
Suede, one of three chess-playing sisters who now works with the New York Chess Academy, delivered all three points to power the Queen’s Gambit to victory.
Suede, the 27-year-old graduate of University of the Philippines, swept Romeo Resuera in blitz and rapid matches.
Backing up Suede in the Palawan team of manager Jorge Mitra and coach Susan Grace Neri were homegrown bets Marife dela Torre and Yanika Eli Seratubias,who won their rapid games and Jesibel Maberi, who won her blitz assignment.
The victories by Suede and the three homegrown talents were enough to cushion the impact of the losses of WIM-elect Shania Mae Mendoza and WIM Catherine Perena-Secopito, who managed only one point against NM Merben Roque and Brylle Arellano of Lapu-Lapu in both blitz and rapid games.
WIM Marie Antoinette San Diego and WNM Carmelita Abanes kept up with Odilon Badilles and Cristy Cabungcag of Lapu-Lapu in the female and senior boards, respectively.
It was only the third victory for the all-female team of Palawan in the prestigious 24-team tournament in Asia’s first-ever professional chess league.
But the win coincided with the start of the International Women’s Month, a worldwide celebrations to acknowledge women’s contributions in history, culture, society and sports.
“We’re very happy to win for the Palawan Queen’s Gambits against the playoff-bound team Lapa-Lapu,” said Neri, daughter of the late chess coach-IA Wilfredo Neri.
“Suede’s wins are indeed very commendable,” added Neri who also piloted the Queen’s Gambits to victories over the Iriga City Oragons and Isabela Knight Raiders.
PCAP is headed by Atty. Paul Elauria, President-Commisisoner; Michael Angelo Ong Chua, Chairman; and Atty. Arnel Batungbakal, Treasurer.
Supporting the competition is the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP), headed by Chairman/President Prospero “Butch” Pichay.
The tournament will resume on Saturday.
