The Surigao Diamond Knights Chess Club was off to a rousing start in the Philippine Chess League (PCL) Season 3 Mayor Sara Duterte Online Chess Tournament  virtually held at lichess.com platform, over the weekend.

Newcomer in former UAAP stalwart Kevin Mirano  topscored with 12 points, while the troika of lawyers Cliburn Anthony Orbe, Melzar Galicia and Jason Bandal came up with a combined 22 to spark Surigao's 131-point finish ahead of MindMovers.Ph Chess Club (100 points), Dipolog City Chess Association  (97 points), Malolos City Chess Club (94 points) and Malaybalay City Chess Club (93 points) in Bracket D.

"I have good background of these lawyers nga pang master caliber ilang strength maong gi-aghat ko gyod nga makatampo sa among team," said AGM Rey Urbiztondo, a newly-minted Honorary National Master, who added 8 points for the team's civic group output.

Adrian Perez, another new recruit, scored 11 points along with Rodney Opada's

10 and Alexis Maribao's 8 for Surigao's impressive start.

During the opening's ceremonial rites, Urbiztondo, who is  the league's vice president, acknowledged the tremendous activity of chess worldwide despite the prevailing pandemic.

"When the other sports are frozen, chess can still be played online where players can compete right at their respective homes observing health protocols," said Urbiztondo, who also owns the Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates being supported by Rep. Robert Ace Barbers-- through  Engr Dodjie Morales as team manager --in the elite Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP).

The PCL online team tourney has a time control of 10 minutes with 2 seconds increment where the players can play in as many games within one and a half hour period.

The top 2 teams in each group after a total of eight  preliminary episodes will advance to the quarterfinals.