San Juan chessers sustain winning streak

Two-time champion San Juan Predators sustained their near-flawless showing in the 2024 PCAP All-Filipino Conference chess team championships.

Flashing their old, deadly form, the Predators posted similar convincing victories over Negros Kingsmen, 17-4, and Tacloban Vikings, 19-2, to keep the solo lead in the prestigious 18-team, two-division tournamenr with 15 wins against only one loss.

United States-based GM Rogelio Barcenilla Jr., Karl Victor Ochoa, WIM Jan Jodilyn Fronda and IM Ricardo de Guzman  proved nearly unstoppable in leading the Predators of PCAP Chairman Michael Angelo Chua and coach Hubert Estrella to back-to-back victories over the Kingsmen and the Vikings in the tournament  sponsored by San Miguel Corporation, Ayala Land and PCWorx.

Barcenilla, ever so eager to  do well in local chess competitions even  while living  abroad, swept Jayson Tapia of Negros, 3-0, and Melvin Merelos of Tacloban, 3-0,  to lead the chareg of San Juan.

Ochoa duplicated Barcenilla’s perfect record as he blanked Godfrey Villamor of Negros and Bobbie Alota of Tacloban on board two.

Fronda edged Queenie Mae Samarita of Negros, 2-1,and  Catherine Pojas of Tacloban 3-0, in the femlew board , while  De Guzman  clobbered Alfredo Dumalag of Negros, 3-0, but lost to Eladio Lim of Tacloban, 1-2.

Also winning for San ujan were brothers Narquinden and Narquingel Reyes, who dominated their  respective rivals on boards six and seven.

The twin victories enabled San Juan to keep a slim lead over second-running Cavite Spartans, who won over Tacloban Vikings, 20.5-.5, and  Southern Conference frontrunner Toledo Trojans, 12.8-8.5; and  defending champion Pasig Pirates, who defeated Negros Kingsmen, 20-1, before losing  to the Camarines Soaring  Eagles, 10.5-10.5 and 1-2  in Armageddon, and Manila Load Manna Knights, who  overwhelmed  Iloilo Kisela Knights, 17.5-3.5, and Mindoro Tamaraws, 19-2.

Cavite leaned on GM Rogelio Antonio, Jr., who edged IM Rico Mascarinas, 2.5-.5, and Daniel Quizon, who whipped Joel Pimentel, 3-0, to subdue Toledo in the battle of heavyweight teams.

The impressive victories by Antonio and Quizon cushioned the impact of losses by Michael Concio to Kim  Steven Yap on board one, and Joel Banawa to Samson Lim on board two.

Pasig, on the other hand, relied on Idelfonso Datu, Nelson Mariano, Sherily Cua and Cris Ramayrat to roll back Negros.

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

The tournament is sanctioned by the Games and Amusements Board (GAB), headed by Chairman Atty. Richard Clarin.

Games are  played every Wednesday and Saturday.