TOLEDO Trojans and Camarines Eagles completed back-to-back victories to keep the lead in the Southern Division in the 2024 PCAP All-Filipino Conference chess team championships last Wednesday.

Toledo, bannered by Samson Lim and Cherry Ann Mejia, humbled Tacloban Vikings, 14.5-6.5, and Negros Kingsmen, 18.5-2.5, to chalk up its conference-best seventh win in eight matches.

Lim swept Melvin Merelos of Tacloban, 3-0, and Ted Ian Montoyo of Negros, 3-0, while Mejia blanked Catherine Pojas of Tacloban, 3-0, and Cecile Reginaldo of Negros, 3-0, to lead the Trojans of Atty. Jeah Gacang to victory.

Allan Pason also delivered for Toledo with a 3-0 victory over Norman Jasper Montejo of Tacloban.

Sharing the limelight was Camarines, which won over Mindoro Tamaraws, 20.5-.5, and Iloilo Kisela Knights, 12.5-8.5, to tie Toledo with 7-1 win-loss records.

GM Darwin Laylo whipped Richard Sicangco of Mindoro, 3-0, and Rolando Andador of Iloilo, 2-1, while Bernadette Galas crushed Grace Robledo and Fiona Guirhem of Iloilo, 2-1, to lead the Eagles’ triumph.

Ellan Asuela of Camarines bested Emmanuel Asi of Mindoro, 3-0, but lost to Fritz Bryan Porras of Iloilo, 1-2; and IM Barlo Nadera downed Cesar Cunanan of Mindoro, 3-0, but fell to NM Cesar Mariano of Iloilo, .5-2.5.

Overall, Toledo has 118 match points against Camarines’ 110.5 points.

Overshadowed by the victories of Toledo and Camarines was Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates’ 13.5-7.5 triumph over Davao Eagles in a keenly-anticipated battle between top Mindanao teams.

IM Rolando Nolte outduelled Asian Para Games champion Sander Severino, 2-1; Joey Albert Florendo whitewashed Nino Aton, 3-0; Mariel Romero toppled Karen Enriquez, 3-0; and Rogelio Enriquez uopset Henry Lopez, 2.5-.5, for Surigao’s victories.

Alexander Lupian provided the lone bright spot for Davao with a 3-0 sweep over Cyril Ortega on the senior board.

Davao, however, bounced back with a 14-7 triumph over arriba Iriga with Severino, Aton, Lupian and Lopez leading the way.

Isabel Palibino swept Enriquez, 3-0, on the female board for Iriga’s lone victory.

Tied for third to fifth places with similar 5-3 slates were Surigao, Davao and Iloilo.

PCAP, the country’s first and only professional chess league, is headed by President-Commissioner Atty. Paul Elauria, and Chairman Michael Angelo Chua.

The tournament is supported by San Miguel Corporation, Ayala Land and PCWorx and sanctioned by the Games and Amusements Board (GAB), headed by Chairman Atty. Richard Clarin.
Games are being played every Wednesday and Saturday.