Madridejos Knights advance to finals of ACAPI chessfest

CEBU, Philippines — The red-hot Madridejos Knights Chess Club led by their Texas, USA-based playing team owner Engr. Josito “Jojo” Clamor Dondon clobbered the Las Piñas City-TFCC Chess Movers Club, 34-14, in their four-round semifinal duel to barge into the championship of the Senior division in the Association of Chess Amateurs of the Philippines, Inc. (ACAPI) 1st President’s Cup online tournament.

Carrying the momentum of their impressive run in the elimination and then in the quarterfinals against the Valenzuela City White Knights Chess Club, the top seeded Madridejos Knights of Bantayan Island blasted the fifth-ranked Las Piñas City-TFCC via an identical 12-0 whitewash in the first two rounds.

The Madridejos Knights sealed their lopsided triumph over Las Piñas with a 10-2 rout in round three.

Dondon, an Arena International Master and US Candidate Master, carry the banner of Madridejos Knights alongside fellow veteran pawnpushers Engr. Gilbert Anthony Ababat, Antonio Cabibil, and Joseleo Cortes.

Ababat owns and managed Fibertronics and Solartronics Inc., which manufactures solar roofs, electric vehicle charging stations, and uninterruptible power supply systems among others in Southern California, Cabibil is a former Cebu Blitz King and top board player of DILG-7, while Cortes is an erstwhile member of the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) chess varsity team.

In the gold-medal battle, the Madridejos Knights will lock horns with the sixth seed Panabo Knights Chess Club of Davao del Norte, which advanced after booting out the Surigao Diamond Knights via a close 26-22 decision in the semis.

Their four-round finals showdown will commence on Friday, May 3.