PCAP-GM Wesley So Cup runner-up San Juan Predators seek a sweep of the elimination round when they battle Rizal Towers and Laguna Heroes in the 2021 PCAP San Miguel Corporation-Ayala Land chess championships this Wednesday.

The Predators, bannered by GM Oliver Batbosa and WIM Jan Jodilyn Fronda, swept their first seven matches and remained as the only unbeaten teams in the Northern Division.

Laguna, winner of the PCAP All-Filipino Conference, is a close second with 6-1 win-loss record, while Rizal is sixth at 3-4.

Pasig Pirates, 5-2, and Manila Indios Bravos, 5-2, and Isabela Knight Raiders, 4-3, are also assured of seats in the next round.

But four teams — Caloocan Load Manna Knights (2-5); Olongapo Rainbow (1-6) Cagayan Kings (1-6) and Cavite Spartans (1-6) wil fight for their remaining two berths to the next round.

Caloocan will square off with Pasig and Rizal, Cagayan will play Olongapo and Pasig, Olongapo will battle Cagayan and Cavite and Cavite will meet Manila and Olongapo.

Òver at the Southern Division, Iloilo Kisela Knights and Negros Kingsmen look to extend their unbeaten 6-0 records and sustain the momentum going into the next round.

The Knights, the reigning PCAP-GM Wesley So Cup champions, take on Iriga Oragons (1-5) and Lapu-Lapu Naki Warriors (5-2), while the Kingsmen face Camarines Soaring Eagles (4-2) and Cebu Machers (0-6).

The top eights teams in both divisions will advance to the second round where they will be joined by four foreign guests teams and three local guest squads.

The four foreign teams are Shenzhen Pengcheng Chess Club Checkered Dragons of China, Penang Blue Panthers of Malaysia, Double Bishop Bangkok Chess Club of Thailand and Singapore.

The three local guest teams are the Philippine Paralympic team, headed by IPCA world champion Sander Severino and AGM Henry Lopez; the Davao Executive Chess Society Eagles, bannered by 2013 Kazan Universiade veteran Mary Palero-Segarra and James Infiesto; and the Pampanga Junior Checkers, led by Lexie Hernandez, Oshrie James Reyes and April Claros.

Standings

North –San Juan 7-0; Laguna 6-1, Pasig 5-2; Manila 5-2, Isabela 4-3; Rizal 3-4; Caloocan 2-5; Olongapo 1-6 Cagayan 1-6, Cavite 1-6.
South — Iloilo 6-0; Negros 6-0; Lapu-Lapu 5-2; Camarines 4-2; Toledo 4-3, Surigao 4-3; Palawan 2-3*; Cordova 2-4; Iriga 1-5*; Cebu 0-6. Mindoro 0-6.

Games Sept. 29

Eighth round

North — San Juan vs. Rizal, Caloocan vs. Pasig, Cagayan vs. Olongapo, Cavite vs. Manila, Isabela vs.Laguna.
South — Toledo vs. Palawan, Camarines vs. Negros, Cebu vs. Mindoro, Cordova vs. Lapu-Lapu, Iloilo vs. Iriga.

Ninth round

North — Laguna vs. San Juan, Manila vs. Isabela, Olongapo vs. Cavite, Pasig vs. Cagayan, Rizal vs. Caloocan.
South — Lapu-Lapu vs. Iloilo, Mindoro vs. Cordova, Negros vs. Cebu, Palawan vs. Camarines, Surigao vs. Toledo.