DEFENDING champion Iloilo Kisela Knights added fellow Southern Division heavyweights Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates and Toledo Trojans to their list of victims in the 2022 PCAP-GM Wesley So Cup chess team championships over the weekend.

GM Hovhannes Gabuzyan and WFM Cherry Ann Mejia made the big difference for the Kisela Knights as they swept their respective opponents in blitz and rapid matches for perfect scores of six points.

Gabuzyan whipped Lennon Hart Salgados of Surigao, 3-0, and Merben Roque of Toledo, 3-0, while Mejia crushed Mariel Romero of Surigao, 3-0, and Jinky Catulay of Toledo, 3-0, to power Iloilo to a league-best 27-2 win-loss record in the two-division, 24-team tournament sponsored by San Miguel Corporation, AyalaLand and PCWorx.

Also delivering the points for the Leo Sotaridona-managed Kisela Knights were GM Rogelio Antonio, Jr., who blanked Cyril Ortega of Surigao, 3-0; Karl Victor Ochoa, who upset GM Enrico Sevillano of Surigao, 2-1; and NM Cesar Mariano, who overpowered Joselito Serna and Antonio Chavez of Surigao, 3-0.

Surigao’s lone victory against Iloilo came from Chavez, who bested NM Fritz Bryan Porras, while Sevillano and FM Vince Alaan managed draws against Ochoa and NM Rolly Parondo, Jr.

Toledo struck back with victories of GM Xu Yi over Ochoa, 2-1, on board one; IM Rico Mascarinas over Antonio, 3-1, on board four; and NM Glicerio Pardillo over Mariano, 2-1.

Over at the Northern Division, San Juan Predators routed Cagayan Kings, 17-4, but lost to Caloocan Load Manna Knights, 8.5-12.5.

GM Oliver Barbosa outduelled GM Alexei Barsov, 2-1, FM Nelson Mariano edged Jake Tumaliuan, 2-1, WIM Jan Jodilyn Fronda outplayed April Joy Ramos, 2-1, and IM Ricardo de Guzman stopped Jude Ulanday, 2-1, to power the Predators of PCAP Chairman Michael Angelo Chua and coach Hubert Estrella to an easy victory over the Kings.

San Juan, however, struggled in a loss to Caloocan.

IM Paolo Bersamina and IM Chito Garma provided the much-needed victories for the Load Manna Knights, who moved into a tie with San Juan at 23-6.

Bersamina was at his usual deadly self with victories over Mariano and IM Rolando Nolte, 3-0.

Garma also did not disappoint for Caloocan as he won over GM Viktor Moskalenko in both their blitz and rapid games.

PCAP, the country’s first and only play-for-pay chess league, is headed by Atty. Paul Elauria as president.

The tournament is sanctioned by the Games and Amusements Board (GAB), headed by Chairman Abraham “Baham” Mitra, and supported by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP), led by Chairman/President Prospero “Butch” Pichay.

PCAP games can be viewed live at the official PCAP website.