CAMARINES Soaring Eagles made its presence felt with an inspiring 15-6 victory over the Negros Kingsmen to keep the solo lead in the 2024 PCAP All-Filipino Conference chess team championships recently.

GM Darwin Laylo outplayed Edsel Montoya, WIM Bernadette Galas clobbered Cecille Reginaldo, and IM Barlo Nadera whipped Alfredo Dumalag — all by 3-0 scores — to lead Camarines to its fourth straight win and the solo lead in the Southern Conference.

Ronald Llavanes also stepped up for the Soaring Eagles as he won over Theseus Benitez and Vincent Balena.

Wilmier Barron and Ted Ian Montoya carried the fight for Negros by beating Ellan Asuela and Coellier Graspela, respectively.

The win was the fourth in a row for Camarines, which also defeated Davao Eagles, 11-10, in the first round; Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates, 14-7, in the second round; and Arriba Iriga, 17-4, in the third round.

They drew a bye in the fourth round.

Toledo Trojans and Iloilo Kisela Knights share second to third places with identical 3-1 win-loss records, followed by Surigao and Tacloban Vikings with 3-2 slates.

Toledo, bannered by Kim Steven Yap and Cherry Ann Mejia, split its matches, losing to Davao Eagles, 7.5-13.5, but winning over Surigao Checkmates, 11.5-9.5.

Iloilo, led by NM Cesar Mariano and Fiona Guirhem, swept its matches against Mindoro Tamaraws, 17-4, and Davao Eagles, 11-10.

Tacloban, led by Melvin Merelos and Jimmy Ty, struck with back-to-back victories over Surigao, 12-9, and Arriba Iriga, 16-5.

Over at the Northern Conference, Manila Load Mana Knights defeated made Olongapo Rainbow, 18-3, in the fourth round and defending champion Pasig Pirates, 11.5-9.5, in the fifth round to assume the solo lead with five straight victories.

IM Paulo Bersamina swept Rustum Tolentino, while IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia blanked Gil Conrad Corre to power the Load Manna Knights’impressive victories.

Bersamina edged GM Mark Paragua, 2-1; Ryan Dungca upset IM Idel Datu, 2-1; Garcia demolished Mark Kevin Labog, 3-0; and Daryl Samantila outsteadied Jerome Villanueva, 2-0, for Manila’s victory over Pasig.

Sherily Cua provided the lone bright spot for Pasig as she outclassed Arvie Lozano, 3-0.

Eric Labog of Pasig also won over Arji Cantonjos, 2-1, on board five.

The senior match between IM Chito Garma and IM Cris Ramayrat ended in a 1.5-1.5 draw.

Earlier, Manila defeated Quezon City Simba’s Tribe, 13.5-7.5, in the first round, Cagayan Kings, 19-2, in the second round and Rizal Towers, 17.5-3.5, in the third round.

Pasig defeated Isabela Knights of Alexander, 14-7, in the fourth round with Cua, Ramayrat and Labog providing the victories.

Marc Nazario shocked Paragua, 3-0, and Joel Banawa upset Datu, 2.5-.5, for Isabela’s victories in the first two boards.

PCAP, the country’s first and only professional chess league, is headed by President-Commissioner Atty. Paul Elauria and Chairman Michael Angelo Chua, and sanctioned by the Games and Amusements Board (GAB), led by Chairman Atty. Richard Clarin.