PCAP

Iloilo, San Juan stay unbeaten

September 24, 2021 Ed Andaya 666 views

ILOILO Kisela Knights and San Juan Predators, the two best teams in the recent PCAP-GM Wesley So Cup, continued their winning ways in the 2021 PCAP San Miguel Corportion-Ayala Land chess championships.

Iloilo demolished the GM Mark Paragua-less Camarines Soaring Eagles, 18.5-2.5, in the fourth round and Cebu City Machers,18.5-2.5, to keep its perfect record with five straight victories in the Southern Division.

Equally impressive was San Juan, which clobbered Olongapo Rainbow, 14-7, and Cavite Spartans, 16-5, to extend its winning streak to five games in the Northern Division.

Iloilo and San Juan, which disputed the championship in the PCAP Wesley So Cup last month, also remain as the only unbeaten teams, along with Negros Kingsmen in the two-division, 21-team tournament organized by the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) and sanctioned by the Games and Amusements Board (GAB).

Negros routed the Palawan Queen’s Gambits, 19.5-1.5, for its fourth win in as many matches.

The Kingsmen drew a bye in the fourth round.

Former Worl Youth Chess campaigner Karl Viktor Ochoa swept Robert Suelo, WFM Cherry Ann Mejia whipped Ezraline Alvarez and NM Cesar Mariano crushed Raul Fernandez to lead Iloilo’s lopsided victory.

Ellan Asuela, who took the place of Paragua, saved the day for Camarines when he held GM Rogelio Antonio, Jr. to a draw in both blitz and rapid matches.

Iloilo was just as dominant against Cebu, with Antonio sweeping Jimmy Tan at the top board and Mejia humbling Cristy Cabuncag at the female board.

San Juan relied on IM Rolando Nolte, WIM Jan Jodilyn Fronda and IM Ricky de Guzman to roll back Olongapo and Cavite.

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