PASIG Pirates and Iloilo Kisela Knights hurdled their respective rivals and clinched top seed in their respective divisions at the close of the elimination round in the 2022 PCAP-GM Wesley So Cup chess team championships.

Pasig overwhelmed Mindoro Tamaraws, 14-7, to finish with a 30-4 win-loss record in the Northern Division.

Iloilo whipped Tacloban Vikings, 19-2, to emerge as the top team in the Southern Division with a 32-2 win-loss slate.

Both Pasig and Iloilo will now wait for the winners of the play-in tournament to determine their quarterfinal opponents.

The play-in will pit No. 7 Cavite Spartans against No, 10 Rizal Towers and No. 8 Isabela Knight of Alexander against No. 9 Quzon City Simba’s Tribe in the North; and No. 7 Cmarines-Iriga Eagles against No. 10 Cagayan de Oro and No. 8 Tacloban Vikings aganst No. 9 Palawan Queen’s Gambits.

In other results, Caloocan Load Manna Knights humbled Rizal Towers, 14.5-6.5, to finish second with 28-6 record; and San Juan Predators crushed Cavite Spartans, 14-7, to end up third with 27-7 slate.

Laguna Heroes outsteadied Quezon City Simba’s Tribe, 12-9, and Manila Indios Bravos blanked Olongapo Rainbow Seven, 21-0, to finish in a two-way tie for fourth to fifth places with identical 21-13 marks.

Cagayan Kings edged Isabela Knight of Alexander, 11.5-9.5, to clinch sixth seed at 19-15.

Over at the Southern Division, Negros Kingsmen clobbered Cagayan de Oro, 18-3, while Davao Eagles demolished Cebu City Machers, 18-3, to share second to third places at 27-7.

Toledo City Trojans outclassed Pagadian, 16-5, to wind up fourth at 22-12.

Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates also finished at 22-12 despite dropping a 10.5-10.5 (1-2 Armageddon) decision to Camarines-Iriga Eagles.

Zamboanga Sultans took the sixth outright quarterfinals berth with a 14-7 triumph over Palawan Queen’s Gambits and 21-14 mark.

PCAP, the country’s first and only professional chess league, is headed by Atty. Paul Elauria as President, Michael Angelo Chua as Chaiman and Ariel Potot as Vice-Chairman; and sponsored by San Miguel Corporation, Ayala Land and PCWorx.

The tournament is sanctioned by the Games and Amusemens 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.

Standings after 34 rounds:

North

Pasig 30-4; Caloocan 28-6; San Juan.27-7; Laguna 21-13, Manila 21-13; Cagayan 19-15; Cavite 18-16; Isabela 13-21; Quezon City 12-22; Rizal 10-24; Mindoro 8-26; Olongapo 1-33.

South

Iloilo 32-2; Negros 27-7, Davao 27-7;
Toledo 22-12, Surigao 22-12; Zamboanga 21-13; Camarines-Iriga 15-19; Tacloban 10-24; Palawan 9-25; Cagayan de Oro 8-26; Cebu 6-28; Pagadian 1-33.

Play-in matches:

North — (7) Cavite Spartans vs. (10) Rizal Towers, (8) Isabela Knight of Alexander vs. (9) Quezon City Simba’s Tribe.
South — (7) Camarines-Iriga Eagles vs. (10) Cagayan de Oro, (8) Tacloban Vikings vs. (9) Palawan Queen’s Gambits.