Toledo Trojans, San Juan Predators stamp class

Standings after six rounds:

Alpha — Manila-AQ 6-0; San Juan 5-1; Pasig 4-2,

QC-IIEE 4-2; Camarines 3-3, Isabela 3-4; Mindoro 2-4; Laguna 1-6, Cebu 0-6.

Omega — Toledo 5-1, Manila-Sudeco 5-1; Bacolod 4-2; Rizal 3-3, .Cagayan 3-3, Iriga 3-3; Cavite 2-5, QC-Chessmates 2-5;  Zamboanga 1 5

TOLEDO Xignex Trojans leaned on GM Rogelio Barcenilla’s strong showing to roll back Rizal Towers, 17.5-3.5, and Iriga Oragons, 16-5, and  create a two-way tie for the lead in the 2026 PCAP GM Wesley So Cup chess team championships recently.

Barcenilla swept Raymond Salcedo of Rizal, 3-0, and Alji Cantonjos of Iriga, 3-0, to lead Toledo’s back-to-back victories and a 5-1 win-loss record in the two-division, 18-team tournament being held in honor of GM So.

Joel Banawa, Cherry Ann Mejia, Cesar Mariano and Kim Steven Yap also hurdled their respective rivals with surprising ease for the  Atty. Jeah Gacang-managed Trojans.

Banawa humbled Carlo Magno Rosaupan, 3-0; Mejia clobbered Jamaica Marie Lagrio, 3-0; Mariano dispatched Henry Vllanueva, 2-1, and Roger Pesimo, 2.5-.5; and Yap outclassed Renato Cruz and Givy Bartolome, 3-0, and Glennen Artuz, 3-0, for Toledo’s victories.

Also posting  twin victories were the San Juan Predators, who dumped IIEE-PSME Quezon City Simba’s Tribe, 17.5-3.5, and Isabela Knights of Alexander, 12.5-8.5;  Pasig Pirates, who humbled OCM-Cebu Ninos, 17.5-3.5, and IIEE-PSME Quezon City Simba’s Tribe, 16.5-4.5;  and Bacolod Blitzers, who outplayed Cavite Spartans,  14-7, and Cagayan Kings, 13-8.

Karl Viktor Ochoa  whipped Anwar Cabugatan of Isabela, 3-0, and Steven Breckenridge of Quezon City, 3-0, while import Viktor Moskalenko edged IM Angelo Young of Isabela , 2-1, and Leonardo Navarro of Quezon City, 3-0, to lead the charge of the Predators. 

Overshadowed was Manila-AQ Prime Assets, which won over  ISabela Knights of Alexander, 16-5, and Camarines Soaring Eagles, 18-3.  

Leading Manila’s campaign were Ellan Asuela, Kylen Joy Mordido, Ricardo de Guzman, Edgardo Garma and Ronald Dableo.

PCAP, the country’s only professional chess league, is  headed by Atty. Paul Elauria as president and Michael Angelo Chua as chairman.

The tournament is sponsored by San Miguel Corporation, Ayala Land and PCWorx and sanctioned by  the  Games and Amusements Board (GAB), led by Atty. Francisco J. Rivera.