Trojans cement lead in PCAP’s southern division standings with 8 wins

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CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Toledo-Xignex Trojans cemented their hold of the southern division’s top spot after racking up a back-to-back win in the ongoing 2023 Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) Wesley So Cup.

The Trojans are now 8-0 (win-loss) in the southern division standings after defeating the RCM Cebu Niños and the Mindoro Tamaraws on Wednesday, October 11, 2023. 

They defeated the Niños, 14-7, in their first scheduled match and went on to rout the Tamaraws, 18-3. 

In their match against the Niños, they almost swept the blitz round, scoring 6-1, in the seven scheduled matches. They finished it up with an 8-6 victory in the rapid round.

Grand Master (GM) Richard Bitoon once again led the Trojans by winning both his matches in the blitz and rapid rounds against Aldwin Daculan. 

Cherry Ann Mejia, Edmundo Gatus, International Master (IM) Kim Steven Yap were also instrumental in the Trojans’ lopsided win against the Niños after beating Marian Calimbo, FIDE Arbiter (FA) Lincoln Yap, and Rex Androe Cabuncal, respectively, in both rounds. 

In their victory over the Tamaraws, Toledo dominated the blitz round, scoring 7-0, with GM Bitoon, David Elorta, Mejia, Gatus, IM Yap, Allan Pason, and Bonn Rainauld Tibod winning their matches against Adamah Fuentes, Ryan Agbunag, Cylliz Merilles, Vicente Espolon, Rainier Labay, Jefferson Pascua, and Ronald Berdera, respectively. 

In the rapid round, Toledo beat the Tamaraws, 11-3, with Elorta, GM Bitoon, Mejia, Gatus, and Pason winning their matches against the same opponents. 

Behind Toledo in the latest team standings is the Iloilo Kisela Knights with 7-1 (win-loss) record, followed by the Niños with 6-2 card, while Mindoro dropped to the fourth spot with 5-3 slate. / dcb

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