MANILA Indios Bravos completed a stunning reversal in the 2024 PCAP -GM Wesley So Cup chess championships, pulling off a three-game sweep of top favorite Toledo Trojan in their no-tomorrov playoffs last Wednesday.

IM Yoseph Taher shocked GM Aleksey Sorokin, IM Paulo Bersamina outwitted IM MIchael Concio, Jr. and GM Oliver Barbosa crushed IM Joel Pimentel as Manila swept Toledo and captured its second straight championship in the prestigious competition sponsored by San Miguel Corporation, Ayala Land and PCWorx.

The win was a fitting follow-up for Manila, which also captured the PCAP All-Fiilipino crown last May 25.

But like in the PCAP All-Filipino Conference last May, the Indios Bravos have to do it the hard way against exactly the same championship opponents — the Trojans.

Toledo, which made history by sweeping all its 22-game in the elimination round, took the first match, 14.5-6.5.

Sorokin humbled Barbosa, 3-0, in the first board; Kylen Joy Mordido swept Shania Mae Mendoza, 3-0, in the female board; GM Rogelio Antonio, Jr. humbled IM Chito Garma, 3-0, in the senior board; and IM Kim Steven Yap edged IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia, 2-1, on board six to clinch the first match for the Trojans.

But the Indios Bravos came back strong in the second match, 13.5-7.5, behind the victories of Taher over Concio (2-1), Garcia over Yap (3-0), David Elorta over Pimentel (2-1) and Bersamina over Virgen Gil Ruaya and Diego Caparino ( 3-0) to send the game into Armageddon.

It was all Manila in the Armageddon, however.

“Manila Indios Bravos made it again as champion of the PCAP SGM Wesley So Cup 4.0! Not just a champion but back-to-back conference champion,” PCAP wrote on its official Facebook page.

“Team Manila lost the first match but managed to bounce back and win the second. In the tiebreaker Armageddon, they ultimately defeated their opponents 3-0.”

Last May, Manila defeated Toledo, 11-10 and 14-7 in their tensely-fought two-game battle to clinch its first PCAP championship.

San Juan Predators defeated Camarines Eagles, 12-9, to clinch third place.

WIM Jan Jodilyn Fronda edged Bernadette Galas, 2.5-.5, GM Victor Moskalenko repulsed IM Barlo Nadera, 2.5-.5, and IM Rolando Nolte and Joel Banawa swept Paul Barroga, 3-0, for San Juan’s victories.

IM Ronald Dableo nipped GM Rogelio Barcenilla, Jr. and Karl Victor Ochoa, 3-0, to lead Camarines’ losing effort.

Before the finals, Manila defeated San Juan, 16-5 and 13.5-7.5, to capture the North title, while Toledo blanked Camarines, 16.5-4.5 and 14.5-6.5, to pocket the South crown.

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

The tournament is sanctioned by the Games and Amusements Board (GAB), headed by Chairman Atty. Francisco Rivera.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Ed Andaya