Tacloban books playoff ticket in PCAP
TACLOBAN Vikings pulled off a king-sized upset at the close of the elimination round of the 2022 PCAP Open chess team championships.
Tacloban, one of the newest member- teams in the league, brought down early qualifier Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates, 11-10, to clinch the eighth and last quarterfinal round berth in the Southern Division.
The Vikings finished in a two-way tie for eighth place with Cebu Machers with 11-22 win-loss records, but booked the last ticket to the next round by virtue of higher tiebreak scores, 288.5 to 265.5 points.
Cebu dropped its final-day assignment to Negros Kingsmen, 7-14.
With the win, Tacloban earned the right to meet top seed Davao Eagles in a two-game playoffs for a semis berth.
Davao clobbered Cagayan de Oro, 14.5-6.5, to clinch top seed in the South with 31-2 win-loss records.
Other round of eight matches in the South will see No. 2 Iloilo Kisela Knights (29-4) against No. 7 Camarines-Iriga Eagles (13-20); No. 3 Negros Kingsmen (28-5) and No. 6 Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates (14-19); and No. 4 Toledo Trojans (23-10) against No. 5 Palawan Queen’s Gambits (15-18).
Over in the Northern Division, it will be No. 1 Pasig Pirates (31-2) against No. 8 Rizal Towers (14-19), defending champion and No. 2 San Juan Preadators against (30-3) and No. 7 Cavite Spartans (15-18); No. 3 Laguna Heroes (24-9) against Isabela Knights of Alexander (17-16); and No. 4 Manila Indios Bravos (23-10) against No. 5 Cagayan Kings (18-15).
The tournament is organized by the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP), headed by President-Commissioner Atty.Paul Elauria and Chairman Michael Angelo Chua and sponsored by San Miguel Corporation, Ayala Land and PCWorx.
Quarterfinal pairings:
North — No.1 Pasig vs. No. 8 Rizal; No. 2 San Juan vs. No. 7 Cavite; No. 3 Laguna vs. No. 6 Isabela; No. 4 Manila vs. No. 5 Cagayan.
South — No.1 Davao vs. No. 8 Tacloban; No.2 Iloilo vs. No. 7 Camarines; No. 3 Negros vs. No. 6 Surigao; No. 4 Toledo vs. No. 5 Palawan
