NORTHERN Division frontrunners San Juan Predators swept Pengcheng-China 21-0, and Bangkok-Thailand, 14.5-6.5, while Pasig Pirates crushed Rizal Towers, 15-6, and Olongapo Rainbow,19-2, to keep their share of the lead going into the final two rounds in the 2021 PCAP San Miguel Corporation-Ayala Land chess championships.

San Juan rode on the impressive showing of IM Rolando Nolte, FM Narquingden Reyes, WIM Jan Jodilyn Fronda and IM Ricardo de Guzman to roll back both their Chinese and Thai opponents and improve their record to 20-1.

Pasig leaned on GM Darwin Laylo, David Elorta, Sherwin Tiu, Sherily Cua and Rudy Ibanez to power past Rizal and Olongapo and keep pace with San Juan with 20-1 record.

Overall, San Juan leads the way with 314.5 total points against Pasig’s 292 points.

PCAP All-Filipino champion Laguna Heroes and Caloocan Load Manna Knights share third to fourth places with 17-4 slates, followed by Manila Indios Bravos with 14-7.

Laguna clobbered Olongapo, 18-3, andPengcheng, 1-0, while Caloocan outsteadied Manila, 12.5-8.5, and Isabela Knight Raiders, 16.5-4.5.

Over at the South, Iloilo Kisela Knights outplayed Penang Panthers-Malaysia, 13.5-7.5, but lost to SinQGApore, 8.5-12.5, while Paralympics lost to SinQGApore, 6.5-14.5, but won over Sunrays, 15-6, to remmain in the lead with 16-5 record.

PCAP, Asia’s first play-for-pay hess league, is headed by President- Commissioner Atty. Paul Elauria, Chairman Michael Angelo Chua and Vice Chairman Ariel Potot.

The tournament is sanctioned by the Games and Amusements Board (GAB), headed by Chairman Abraham “Baham” Mitra.

Standings

North
San Juan 20-1, Pasig 20-1; Laguna 17-4,
Caloocan 17-4; Manila 14-7; Davao 10-11;
Isabela 9-12; Rizal 8-13; Pampanga 7-14; Bangkok 6-15; Olongapo 4-17; Pengcheng 0-21.

South
Iloilo 16-5, Paralympics 16-5; SinQGApore 15-6, Negros 14-7; Penang 13-8; Lapu-Lapu 13-8; Toledo 10-11; Camarines 8-3, Surigao 5-14; Palawan 4-17; Mindoro 3-18; Sunrays 1-20.

Schedule for Nov. 13

Round 22 — Caloocan vs. Pampanga, Rizal vs. Isabela, Olongapo vs. Manila, Pengcheng vs. Pasig, Bangkok vs. Laguna, Davao vs. San Juan, Toledo vs. Sunrays, Camarines vs. Palawan, Mindoro vs. Surigao, Penang vs. Lapu-Lapu, SinQGApore vs. Negros, Paralymics vs Iloilo.

Round 23 — Toledo vs. San Juan, Camarines vs. Laguna, Mindoro vs. Pasig, Penang vs. Manila, SinQGApore vs. Isabela, Paralympics vs. Caloocan, Sunrays vs. Rizal, Iloilo vs. Olongapo, Negros vs. Pengcheng, Lapu-Lapu vs. Bangkok, Surigao vs. Davao, Palawan vs. Pampanga.