SAN JUAN Predators opened their campaign in the second round of eliminations with a bang by sweeping the Iloilo Kisela Knights, 15-6, and Negros Kingsmen, 14-7, in the 2021 PCAP San Miguel Corporation-Ayala Land chess championships last Wednesday.

Former Asian junior champion IM Ricardo de Guzman shone brightest for San Juan as he swept NM Cesar Mariano of Iloilo and NM Dr. Jenny Mayor of Negros in both blitz and rapid matches to deliver six points for the Predators.

WIM Jan Jodilyn Fronda also came through wth much’needed victories for San Juan, beating WFM Cherry Ann Mejia of Iloilo, 2-1, and AGM Rowelyn Joy Acedo of Negros, 3-0.

The top board matches between GM Oliver Barbosa of San Juan and GM Rogelio Antonio, Jr. of Iloilo ended in 1.5-1.5 draw as did the second board encounter between IM Rolando Nolte and Karl Viktor Ochoa.

Barbosa edged Nelson Mariano III, 2-1 FM Arden Reyes crushed Theseus Benitez and Narquingel Reyes nipped Adrian de la Cruz, 2-1, in other crucial San Juan-Negros encounters.

Five other teams — Caloocan Load Manna Knights, Laguna Heroes, Pasig Pirates, Manils Indios Bravos and Isabela Knight Raiders — also hurdled their first two assignments against their Southern Division counterparts.

Caloocan whipped Toledo Trojans, 14.5-6.5 and Camarines Soaring Eagles, 16.5-4.5; Laguna overwhelmed Negros, 14.5-6.5, and Lepu-Lapu Naki Warriors, 14.5-6.5; Pasig crushed Lapu-Lapu, 16-5, and Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates, 11.5-9.5; Manila outsteadied Surigao, 12-0, and Palawan Queen”s Gambits, 15-6; and Isabela humbled Palawan, 16-5, and Toledo, 12.5-8.5.

Trailing behind at 1-1 are Rizal Towers, who lost to Camarines, 9-12, but won over Mindoro Tamaraws, 15-6.

Also with 1-1 records are Davao Eagles, Olongapo Rainbow and Pampanga Checkers.

Over at the South, Singapore swept Double Bishop-Bangkok, 12.5-8.5, and Pengcheng-China, 19-2, to share the early lead with Philippine Paralympics team with two straight victories.

World Chess Olympiad veteran and seven-time Singapore champion GM Kevin Goh Wei Ming and Jimmy Liew led the Singaporeans.

Go, the 38-year-old campaigner who earned his GM title when he surpassed ELO 2500 last year, defeated Thai Filipino import FM Deniel Causo, 2.5-.5, and Li Tian Chao, of PengCheng 3-0, while Liew outclassed Peter Darby of Bangkok, 2.5-.5, and Chen Bing, 3-0, in senior board.

The Philippine Paralympics team, led by reigning IPCA world champion FM Sander Severino and Jerlyn Mae San Diego, matched Singapore’s 2-0 start by beating Davao Eagles, 14-7, and Bangkok, 12.5-8.5.

Penang-Malaysia clobbered Pengcheng-China, 18-3, but lost to Olongapo Rainbow, 9.5-11.5, to share third to sixth places with Iloilo, Mindoro and Camarines.

Schedule October 9:

Round 3
San Juan vs Lapu-Lapu, Laguna vs Surigao, Pasig vs Palawan, Manila vs Toledo, Isabela vs Camarines, Caloocan vs Mindoro, Rizal vs Penang, Olongapo vs Singapore, Pengcheng vs Paralympics, Bangkok vs Sunrays, Davao vs Iloilo, Pampanga vs Negros.

Round 4
Surigao vs San Juan, Palawan vs Laguna, Toledo vs Pasig, Camarines vs Manila, Mindoro vs Isabela, Penang vs Caloocan, Singapore vs Rizal, Paralympics vs Olongapo, Sunrays vs Pengcheng, Iloilo vs Bangkok, Negros vs Davao, Lapu-Lapu vs Pampanga.