MANILA--After seven tries, the PCAP's queens finally got past a bunch of kings.
The all-female Palawan squad notched its breakthrough win in the world's first professional chess league after downing Iriga, 17.5-3.5, in Round 7 of the online All-Filipino Cup on Wednesday night.
The Queen's Gambit set up their dominance over the Oragons in the blitz matches, going unbeaten with only a draw between Board 2 players Women's International Master Catherine Secopito and Joeven Polsotin preventing the Gambit from getting the perfect seven points in blitz.
Palawan also romped Iriga in the rapid matches, getting five wins and one draw for 11 more points.
The only match the Oragons won all series long was the Board 1 rapid match between National Master Glennen Artuz and WIM Shania Mendoza.
Artuz banked on Mendoza's late errors to clinch the victory in the tight battle especially when time ran out on Mendoza.
With the Gambit's victory, which tied their victims in the Southern Conference standings at 1-6, the Cebu City Machers are now the only team left without a win so far in the tournament.
Cebu City lost a tough Round 6 battle against Surigao, 10-11, before getting by the still unbeaten Camarines squad, 2-19.
Meanwhile, Negros joined Camarines as the only South teams at 7-0 after downing Iloilo in their Round 6 battle, 12-9.
In the battle between unbeaten clubs entering the Wednesday night matches, the Kingsmen turned the tides in the rapid matches, outscoring the Kisela Knights, 9-5, to steal the series.
Negros later beat Lapu-Lapu in another close battle, 11.5-9.5, while Iloilo bounced back against Surigao with a 17.5-3.5 blowout.
On the other hand, San Juan escaped Manila after dominating the Armageddon matches.
With the Predators and the Indios Braves battling to a 10.5-all stalemate after the regular games, the troika of Grandmaster Oliver Barbosa, FIDE Master Narquinden Reyes, and International Master Ricardo De Guzman swept the Armageddon against the group of GM Julio Sadorra and IM's Cris Ramayrat and Marvin Miciano to clinch the series for the Predators.
Caloocan remains the only Northern Conference squad unscathed after edging Olongapo, 15.5-5.5, and Pasig, 15-6.
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