Manila, Toledo triumph
DEFENDING champion Manila Load Manna Knights and runner-up Toledo Xignex Trojans pulled off similar easy victories over their respective rivals at the start of the 2025 PCAP All-Filipino Conference chess team championships over the weekend.
Manila overwhelmed IIEE-PSME Quezon City Simba’s Tribe, 15.5-5.5, in the Northern Conference, while Toledo whipped ACAPI Misamis Occidental/TFCC LP Bamboo Knights, 20-1, in the Southern Conference to serve notice of their title aspirations in this season-opening tournament organized by the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP).
IM Paulo Bersamina, IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia, IM Chito Garma and David Elorta swept their respective opponents in both blitz and rapid matches to lead Manila to a smashing debut in this prestigious 16-team, two-division competition sponsored by San Miguel Corp. Ayala Land and PCWorx.
Bersamina clobbered NM Marlon Bernardino, 3-0; Garcia humbled Francis Talaboc and Kristian Paulo Cristobal, 3-0; Garma dumped FM Efren Bagamasbad, 3-0; and Elorta crushed Cristobal and Talaboc, 3-0.
Manilyn Cabungcag and Joseph Navarro provided the victories for Quezon City as they upset Arvie Lozano and Genghis Imperial, respectively.
Toledo was even more dominant in the victory over Misamis Occidental.
GM Mark Paragua, Ellan Asuela, Cherry Ann Mejia, Edgardo Garma, Allan Pasion, Kyle Sevillano and Bonn Rainauld Tibod hardly worked out a sweat in winning their matches from boards one to seven in blitz action.
Misamis Occidental averted a shutout when little-known Kylle Vincent Gamba held veteran IM Rico Mascarinas to a draw in their rapid encounter.
In other opening-day results, San Juan Predators humbled Rizal Towers, 19-2; Pasig King Pirates downed Isabela Knights of Alexander, 13-8; and AQ Prime Cavite Spartans outclassed Cagayan Kings, 16.5-4.5, in the Northern Conference; and Camarines Eagles demolished Zamboanga Sultans, 18-3; Bacolod Blitzers bested Iriga Oragons, 16-5; and Mindoro Tamaraws smothered Iloilo Kisela Knights, 16.5-4.5, in the Southern Conference.
PCAP, the country’s first and only professional chess league, is headed by President-Commissioner Atty. Paul Elauria, and Chairman Michael Angelo Chua.
