MANILA, Philippines — Has parity set in in the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP)?
After a stoppage of more than a week due to the harmful effects of the recent typhoon, PCAP’s Open Conference resumed with the final week of inter-division play on Saturday.
Related Stories
The Iloilo Kisela Knights squeaked past the San Juan predators, 2-1, in Armageddon while the Negros Kingsmen convincingly defeated the Laguna Heroes, 13-8.
The Davao Chess Eagles, the southern leaders, smashed the Manila Indios Bravos, 16-5; and the Toledo Trojans escaped the Cavite Kings, 11.5-9.5.
Iloilo took blitz play against San Juan, 4.5-2.5.
But the Predators, who have faced the Kisela Knights four times in the play-offs and have come away twice winners in the finals, equalized with an 8-6 win in rapid chess to forge extra boards.
In Armageddon, the Kisela Knights’ Karl Viktor Ochoa and GM Joey Antonio got the better of IM Paulo Bersamina and FM Arden Reyes while IM Jem Garcia was the only San Juan player to get a win.
Toledo blew Cagayan off the chess board with a 6.5-0.5 win in blitz.
With their backs against the wall, the Kings roared back to life in rapid chess, 9-5, behind Don Tyrone delos Santos, April Joy Ramos, Jude Ulanday, and Robert Mania.
However, it wasn’t enough to forge Armageddon or to gain an outright win as Jake Tumaliuan was held scoreless throughout the match.
In other matches, Iloilo crushed Laguna, 16-5. Negros walloped the Indios Bravos,17-4 and Toledo pulled off another escape this time against the Cavite Spartans, 11.5-9.5.
The only team, perhaps, with no parity is the Pasig King Pirates who made mincemeat out of Pagadian, 17.5-3.5, and PECA, 18-3.