PASIG Pirates outsteadied Penang Panthers-Malaysia, 11-10, and SinQGApore, 14.5-6.5, while Paralympic subdued Isabela Knight Raiders, 12.5-8.5, and Manila Indios Bravos, 12-9, to tighten their grip on the lead in the 2021 PCAP San Miguel Corporation-Ayala Land chess team championships last Saturday.

GM Roland Salvador, NN Rudy Ibanez and Eric Labog carried the fight for the Pirates, who barely edged the Panthers in the first of two-set schedule in the season-ending tournament organized by the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP).

Salvador swept IM Ooi Zhi Yang, Ibanez overwhelmed Eric Cheah and Labog outclassed NM Ng Tze Han– all by 3-0 scores — to propel Pasig to its seventh straight win and a share of the lead in the Northern Division.

The victories also cushioned the impact of upset losses by GM Darwin Laylo and WFM Sherily Cua to Poh Yu Tian and WCM Chua Jia-Tien, respectively.

FM David Elorta, Salvador, Cua, Ibanez and Kevin Arquero were the top scorers for Pasig, which outplayed SinQGApore, 11-3, in rapid after a 3.5-3.5 standoff in blitz.

Elorta bested IM Nima Javanbakht, 2-1: Salvador nipped FM Siddharth Jagadees, 2.5-.5; Cua shocked WGM Gong Qianyun, 3-0; ibanez downed IM Jimmy Liew, 3-0; and Arquero edged Teo Hong Ming, 2-1.

Ethan Poh Xuan Ru and GM Kevin Goh Wei Ming struck for the Sngapooreans by beating Laylo (2-1) and Labog (2-1) respectively.

Paralympic also completed a twin kill on victories by IM Daniel Quizon, FM Sander Severino, WNM Jerlyn Mae San Diego and FM Roel Abelgas over their Isabela counterparts IM Angelo Young, NM Gerardo Cabellon, WCM Cristy Lamiel Bernales and Melchor Foronda.

Severino upset IM John Marvin Miciano and San Diego overpowered Mira Mirano in Paralympic’s upset victory over erstwhile unbeaten Manila.

Also keeping their perfect records are San Juan Predators, who clobbered Camarines Eagles, 16.5-4.5, and Mindoro Tamaraws, 20-1; and Laguna Heroes, who stopped Mindoro, 18-3, and Penang, 12-9.

Both San Juan and Laguna have 7-0 win-loss records in a tie with Pasig.

San Juan leaned on GM Oliver Barbosa, WIM Jan Jodilyn Fronda, IM Ricardo de Guzman and FM Narquinden Reyes, while Laguna relied on GM Rogelio Barcenilla, FM Austin Jacob Literatus, WNM Jean Karen Enriquez and FM Efren Bagamasbad.

Equally impressive were the Caloocan Load Manna Knights, who won over CCE Sunrays, 18-3, and Iloilo Kisela Knights 13.5-7.4, for a 6-1 record; Negros Kingsmen, who triumphed over Olongapo Raibow 16.5-4.5, and Rizal Towers, 12.5-8.6, for 5-2 slate; and Lapu-Lap Naki Warriors, who shone over Pengcheng-China, 18-3, and Olongapo, 12-9, for 4-3 mark.

Toledo Trojans outlasted Davao Eagles, 3-0, in Armageddon after a 10.5-10.5 draw in regular play.

Winning for the Trojans wereRommel Ganzon, Richard Natividad and Rogelio Enriquez.

PCAP is headed by Atty. Paul Elauria as President-Commissioner, and Michael Angelo Chua as Chairman.

The tournament is sanctioned by the Games and Amusements Board (GAB), headed by Chairman Abraham “Baham” Mitra.

Standings

North
San Juan 7-0, Laguna 7-0, Pasig 7-0; Caloocan 6-1, Manila 6-1; Isabela 4-3; Bangkok 2-5, Olongapo 2-5, Pampanga 2-5, Davao 2-5; Rizal 1-6; Pengcheng 0-6.

South
Paralympic 7-0; Iloilo 5-2, Negros 5-2; SinQGApore 4-3, Penang 4-3, Lapu-Lapu 4-3; Camarines 3-4; Toledo 2-5; Surigao 1-6, Sunrays 1-6 , Palawan 1-6, Mindoro 1-6.