DEFENDING champion San Juan Predators underscored their dominance by posting another impressive back-to-back victories in the 2022 PCAP Third Conference (Open) chess championships over the weekend.

With IMs Paulo Bersamina and Jan Emmanuel Garcia and WIM Jan Jodilyn Fronda leading the way, San Juan demolished Isabela Knights of Alexander, 18.5-2.5, and Quezon City Simba’s Tribe, 20-1, to keep solo second place in the Northern Division behind only the Pasig Pirates.

The Predators have 7-1 win-loss record and 111.5 points against the Pirates’ perfect 8-0 card and 119 points.

Pasig kept its perfect record following similar easy 18.5-2.5 triumph over Quezon City and 14.5-6.5 win over Rizal Towers.

Bersamina, Garcia and Fronda claimed all the six points available to lead the charge of the Predators of PCAP Chairman Michael Angelo Chua and coach Hubert Estrella.

Bersamina swept Alvin Aguinaldo and Nick Marinduque of Isabela, 3-0; and Savimn de los Santos of Quezon City, 3-0, on board one; Garcia blanked Manolito Manaois and Renan Rabago of Isabela, 3-0; and Robert Arellano of Quezon City, 3-0, on board two; and Fronda crushed Sherly Bordon and AFM Melizah Camson of Isabela, 3-0; and Michaela Concio of Quezon City, 3-0, on the female board.

Also delivering the points for San Juan were IM Ricardo de Guzman, Narquingel Reyes and FM Randy Segarra.

De Guzman won over Gerardo Cabellon of Isabela, 3-0; and Danilo Ponay of Quezon City, 3-0, in the senior board.

AGM Melchor Foronda II upset Segarra in rapid match, and drew with FM Narquingden Reyes in blitz for Isabela’s 2.5 points.

Freddie Talaboc averted a shutout for Quezon City when he battled Reyes to a draw in rapid match.

Equally impressive were 2021 PCAP All-Filipino champions Laguna Heroes, who outclassed Cavite Spartans, 12-9; and Isabela, 16.5-2, with still two unfinished matches.

The Heroes celebrated the return of GM John Paul Gomez to the line-up to book their sixth win against only two losses.

With GM Rogelio Barcenilla, Jr. taking a day off, Gomez took over the top board and delivered five of six available points for the Dr. Fred Paez-managed Heroes.

Gomez narrowly missed a perfect 6-of-6 mark when he settled for a draw in his rapid match with IM Joel Banawa of Cavite.

The last time Gomez played for Laguna was on November 20, 2021 during the semifinals of last year’s Open Conference where the Predators defeated the Heroes in two sets en route to their first PCAP title.

Other top performers for the Heroes were Richie Jocson, who won all six points on the homegrown board and IM Angelo Young, who claimed five of the six points in the senior board.

PCAP, the country’s first-ever professional chess league, is headed by Atty. Paul Elauria as president- commissioner.

The tournament is sanctioned by the Games and Amusements Board (GAB).