NEGROS stepped up its campaign in the 2021 Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) All-Filipino tournament, posting back-to-back victories over Palawan and Toledo late Saturday.
The Kingsmen opened the day with an easy win 17-4 win over the Palawan Queen’s Gambits and followed it up with an 11.5-9.5 victory over the Toledo Trojans to take the soli lead anew with a tournament-best 24-3 win-loss record
FM Nelson Mariano III was the top scorer for the Kingsmen with perfect six points — three against WIM Shania Mae Mendoza of Palawan and three against Rogelio Enriquez of Toledo.
Randy Segarra, Rosendo Bandal, Joel Pimentel Rolzon Roullo and Junaico Segismar also contributed to Negros’ impressive performance in the 24-team professional chess tournament organized by PCAP and sanctioned by the Games and Amusements Board (GAB).
Actually, Negros nearly dropped out of the lead after losing 1.5-5.5 to Toledo in blitz with Mariano scoring the lone victory.
But Mariano, who works as head coach of Jose Rizal University under athletic director Paul Supan, repeated iver Enriquez to power the Kingsmen to a 10-4 triumph in rapid to secure the win.
At 24-3, Negros is already assured of a top three finish with only seven rounds left before the playoffs.
Iloilo Kisela Knights, led by GM Rogelio Antonio, Jr. and Karl Viktor Ochoa and Camarines Soaring Eagkes, bannered byGM Mark Paragua and Ellan Asuela, trail closely behind with 23-4 records.
Iloilo outclassed Cebu City Machers, 16-5, and Zamboanga Sultans, 12.5-8.5, while Camarines smothered Iriga City Oragons, 19-2, and Mindoro Tamaraws, 18-3.
Despite the losses, Zamboanga and Toledo remain tied for fourth and fifth places in the Southern Conferencw with identical 15-12 slates.
In the Northern Conference, San Juan Predators overpowered Cagayan Kings, 17-4, and Caloocan Load Manna Kings, 14.5-6.5, to forge another three-way tie for the lead at 23-4.
Caloocan and Laguna Heroes went 1-1 for the day for similar 23-4 slates..
Before losing to San Juan, Caloocan defeated Laguna, 13.5-7.5.
Laguna later bounced back with 17.5-3.5 victory over the Cavite Spartans.
Manila Indios Bravos swept Pasig Pirates, 13-8, and Antipolo Cobras, 16-5 to become the seventh team to breach the 20-win mark.
The Indios Bravos of GM Julio Sadorra and IM Marvin Miciano are fourth in the North with 20-7 record.
Rizal Towers are fifth with 17-10 record after a 8-12 setback to Cavite and 12-9 victory over Olongapo Rainbows.
Pasig beat Quezon City Simba’s Tribe, 13.5-7.5, to share sixth to seventh places with Cavite with 14-13 marks.
Antipolo outplayed Isabela, 13.5-7.5, eier in tbe day to hang on to the No. 8 spot at 12-15.
Isabela remained in ninth position with 9-18 record.
