DAVAO Eagles brought down erstwhile undefeated Pasig Pirates, 12.5-8.5, in the much-awaited battle between the top teams in the Southern and Northern Divisions in the 2022 PCAP Third Conference chess championships.

The Eagles struck hardest in the rapid chess, with NMs Dale Bernardo and Henry Lopez providing the much-needed victories in their 10-4 triumph that erased the Pirates’ 4.5-2.5 win in blitz chess.

Bernardo and Lopez turned the tables on IM Idel Datu, AGM Rowelyn Joy Acedo and Jerome Villanueva for the three full points for Davao.

NM Alexander Lupian, FM AJ Literatus and NM Jonathan Tan backed them up with hard-earned draws against their Pasig counterparts.

“We didn’t expect it (to win). We just held on sa rapid because we were down sa blitz. The win against Pasig is a confidence booster for our team more so we are the first team to beat them this conference,” Lopez was quoted sa saying.

“Hopefully, we can sustain our momentum all throughout this conference.”

PCAP officials said the last time the Pirates lost was on July 2 when the San Juan Predators squeaked past them, 11-10, in the elimination round of the Wesley So Cup.

Prior to that loss, Davao also defeated Pasig, 11-10 last June 13, also in that same Wesley So Cup.

Both Pasig and Davao also won in Wednesday night’s doubleheader to keep the lead in thir respective divisions.

The Pirates came back strong with a 15-6 triumph in the over the Toledo City Trojans while the Eagles completed a twin kill with a 19-2 demolition of the guest Pasig Junior team.

Overall, Pasig still leads the way in the Northern Division with a 13-1 win-loss record.

Davao, on the other hand, is tied for the top spot with the Iloilo Kisela Knights in the Southern Division with identical 12-2 slates.

The Eagles, however, have more won points than the Kisela Knights, 209.5-208.

PCAP, the country’s first and only professional chess league, is headed by President-Commissioner Atty. Paul Elauria and Chairman Michael Angelo Chua.

Major sponsors are San Miguel Corporation, Ayala Land and PCWorx.

Standings:

North — Pasig 13-1; San Juan 12-2; Manila 10-4, Laguna 10-4; Cagayan 9-5; Isabela 8-6, Rizal 8-6; Quezon City 6-8; Cavite 4-10; Mindoro 2-12; Olongapo 1-3; Pasig Juniors 0-4.
South — Davao 12-2, Iloilo 12-2; Negros 11-3; Toledo 8-6; Camarines 7-7, Cebu 7-7; Palawan 6-8; Surigao 5-9; PECA 3-1; Tacloban 2-12; Cagayan de Oro 1-13; Pagadian 0-14.