PASIG Pirates, San Juan Predators and Iloilo Kisela Knights continued their remarkable showing to finish ahead of the field at the end of the first part of the elimination round in the 2022 Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) All-Filipino Conference last Wednesday.

Pasig, bannered by GMs Mark Paragua and Darwin Laylo, overwhelmed Olongapo Rainbow, 20-1, and Manila Indios Bravos, 14-7, to clinch top spot in the Northern Division with a 10-1 win-loss record and 162.5 total points.

Sherily Cua, Rudy Ibanez, Jerome Villanueva, Eric Labaog and IM Cris Ramayrat also stepped up for the Pirates, who are hoping to win their first-ever PCAP title under the guidance of Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto.

San Juan, led by IM Rolando Nolte and WIM Jan Jodilyn Fronda, edged defending champion Laguna Heroes, 11.5-9.5, and Cavite Spartans, 15.5-5.5, to match Pasig’s 10-1 record.

The Predators, however, remain in second place with 150.5 total points.

Nolte carried the fight for San Juan when he upset GM Rogelio Barcenilla, Jr. of Laguna, 2.5-.5.

Nolte, who took the place of GM Oliver Barbosa at board one, defeated Barcenilla in rapid game.

Fronda swept Michella Concio, 3-0, on the female board: De Guzman blanked IM Angelo Young, 3-0, on the senior board; and FM Narquinden Reyes nipped Kimuel Aaron Lorenzo, 2.5-.5, on board five.

Richie Jocson and Apollo Agapay struck for Laguna with victories over Narquingel Reyes (2.5-.5) and Narciso Gumila (3-0) , respectively.

Laguna bounced back strong from a narrow setback to San Juan with a 16.5-4.5 victory over Quezon City Simba’s Tribe.

Barcenilla crushed NM Edgardo Garma, 3-0; WNM Jean Karen Enriquez bested Michaela Concio , 3-0; FM Efren Bagamasbad humbled Danilo Ponay, 3-0; and Lorenzo blanked Freddie Talaboc, 3-0.

The Heroes of PECA president Dr. Fred Paez are third with 9-2 slate and 148.5 total points.

Caloocan Load Manna Knights also made their presence felt with back-to-back victories over Cavite Spartans, 13-8, and Cagayan Kings, 17.5-3.5.

Leading the Load Manna Knights are IMs Paulo Bersamina, Jan Emmanuel Garcia, Arvie Lozano and Domingo Ramos, who all hurdled their matches.

Isabela Knight Raiders and Cagayan share fifth to sixth places with 6-5 records, followed by Manila and Quezon City with 5-6 slates

The tournament shifts to the intra-division competition with teams from the North battling teams from the South starting Saturday.

PCAP, the country’s first and only play-for-pay chess league, is headed by Atty. Paul Elauria as President- Commissioner; Michael Angelo Chua as Chairman; Dr. Ariel Potot as Vice Chairman and Atty. Arnel Batungbakal as Treasurer.

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.

Standings

Northern Division
Pasig 10-1, San Juan 10-1, Laguna 9-2; Caloocan 8-3; Isabela 6-5, Cagayan 6-5; Manila 5-6, Quezon City 5-6; Rizal 3-8, Mindoro 3-8; Cavite 1-10; Olongapo 0-11.

Southern Division
Iloilo 10-1; Davao 9-2; Negros 8-3; Surigao 7-4, Zamboanga 7-4; Toledo 6-5; Camatines 5-6; Cebu 4-7, Cagayan de Oro 4-7; Palawan 3-8; Tacloban 2-9; Iriga 1-10.

Schedule:

Round 12 — Caloocan vs. Cagayan de Oro, Cagayan vs. Camarines, Cavite vs. Cebu, Isabela vs. Davao, Laguna vs. Iloilo, Manila vs. Iriga, Mindoro vs. Negros, Olongapo vs. Palawan, Pasig vs. Surigao, Quezon City vs. Tacloban, Rizal vs. Toledo, San Juan vs. Zamboanga.

Round 13 — Camarines vs. Caloocan, Cebu vs. Cagayan, Davao vs. Cavite, Iloilo vs. Isabela, Iriga vs. Laguna, Negros vs. Manila, Palawan vs. Mindoro, Surigao vs. Olongapo, Tacloban vs. Pasig,Toledo vs. Quezon City, Zamboanga vs.Rizal, Cagayan de Oro vs. San Juan.