SURIGAO Fianchetto Checkmates and Toledo City Trojans pulled off similar hard-earned victories in Armageddon in the 2021 PCAP San Miguel Corporation- Ayala Land chess championships.

NM Jonathan Tan subdued FM Sander Severino, while Lennon Hart Salgados toppled NM Menandro Redor in their playoff matches to power Surigao to 10.5-10.5, 2-1 victory over Paralympics.

FM Roel Abelgas averted a shutout for Paralympics with a victory over FM Vince Alaan on board three.

The two teams earlier battled to a draw in regular play with Paralympics winning in blitz, 4.5-2.5, and Surigao fighting back in rapid, 8-6.

The win was the third in 15 matches for Surigao, which is tied with Mindoro Tamaraws and Palawan Queens Gambits.

Toledo relied on Rogelio Enriquez, who defeated FM Wong Yinn Long, and Rommel Ganzon, who outsteadied IM Ooi Zhi Yang to upset Penang Panthers- Malaysia, 10.5-10.4, 2-1, in Armageddon.

NM Evan Anthony Capel was the lone winner for Penang as he won over Ronald Ganzon on board three.

Toledo made it a double celebration with an 11-10 squeker over SinQGApore.

Ganzon edged Nima Javavanbakht, 2.5-.5, and IM Rico Mascarinas outplayed Jimmy Liew, 2.5-.5, to power the Trojans.

Toledo is now tied for fourth to fifth places with SinQGApore with 9-6 win-loss record behind only Paralympics (12-3), Iloilo Kisela Knights (11-4) and Penang (10-5).

Iloilo made the biggest move with back-to-back victories over Lapu-Lapu Naki Warriors,11.5-9.5, and Surigao, 13.5-7.5, to climb to solo second with 11-4 record.

GM Rogelio Antonio, Jr., Karl Viktor Ochoa, and Lloyd Lanciola led the Kisela Knights to a morale-boosting victory over the Naki Warriors.

Before losing toToledo, SinQGApore won over Palawan, 17-4.

Negros Kingsmen swept both matches against Sunrays, 16-5, and Lapu-Lapu, 13.5-7.5, to keep their hopes alive with 8-7 , the same record of Camarines Eagles.

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

Standings

North
Caloocan 14-1, San Juan 14-1, Pasig 14-1; Laguna 12-3, Manila 11-4; Isabela 9-6; Rizal 6-9; Davao 5-10; Bangkok 4-11 Pampanga 4-11; Olongapo 3-12; Pengcheng 0-15.

South
Paralympics 12-3; Iloilo 11-4, Penang 10-5; SinQGApore 9-6, Toledo 9-6; Camarines 8-7, Negros 8-7; Lapu-Lapu 7-8; Surigao 3-12, Mindoro 3-12; Palawan 3-12; Sunrays 1-14.