Apocalypse-Manila Chess Team, led by International Master (IM) Ronald “Onat” Bancod proved unstoppable, winning the KaSUGI Team Chess Championship 2012 (Open) last weekend at the Citi Tel Express Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Photo from yatzchess.blogspot.com

IM Ronald Bancod defeated Malaysian Master Tze Han Ng to lead Apocalypse-Manila Chess Team to a 3-1 in over Penang B in the seventh and penultimate round.

He drew with compatriot NM Carlo Lorena in the eight and final round as Apocalypse-Manila Chess Team suffered a heart-breaking loses to Bicol Express, 2.5-1.5, but still emerged over-all champion in the 58 team participated tournament.

Apocalypse-Manila Chess Team finished the eight-round tournament with 6 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss, 23 Board Points and 13 Match points.

The team is comprised of IM Ronald Bancod, United States chess master Albert Rivera, Franz Berretto and Mohamad Sacar.

The winning Filipino chess pushers pipped two other teams, STMIK-STIE Mikroskil and Bicol Express, all with the same score except for board points are 22.5 and 21.5 respectively putting them at second and third best teams of the KaSUGI Team tournament 2012.

STMIK-STIE Mikroskil is a mixed Indonesian-Brunei-Malaysian team, while the Bicol Express is mostly Filipinos and one Malaysian.Tesla Chess ended in fourth position and Penang A in fifth position. While the sponsors best team, KaSUGI A finished a creditable sixth position.

With the victory, Apocalypse-Manila Chess Team’s performance boosted the nation’s morale, said Team Manager Raymond Linsangan, a newly-elected board of director of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) under the leadership of it’s Chairman/President Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr. and Secretary-General and Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino Jr.

“Once again our flag has been raised in this foreign land after knowing that our Filipino kababayan (Apocalypse-Manila Chess Team) dominated the Malaysian Team chess championship,” he said.

-by Marlon Bernardino-