MANILA – Iloilo Kisela Knights and Negros Kingsmen scored a pair of victories each on Wednesday night to stay on top of the Southern Division in the first conference of the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP).
The Knights kicked off the evening with a thrilling 12.5-8.5 triumph over Laguna Heroes before following it up with a lopsided 18-3 domination over Antipolo Cobras for a 13-2 slate.
Iloilo dominated Laguna in Blitz event, 5.5-1.5, with Grand Master (GM) Joey Antonio, Women’s FIDE Master (WFM) Cherry Ann Mejia, and National Master (NM) Cesar Mariano, Dennis Bernas and NM John Michael Silvederio winning their matches and NM Fritz Brian Porras settling for draw.
In the Rapid game, Iloilo was forced to a 7-7 draw by Laguna with Mejia and Silvederio winning their games, while Antonio, Mariano, and Porras settled for draws each.
Against Cobras, the Kisela Knights won the Blitz game with a score of 5-2 following wins by Antonio, Mariano, Borras, Karl Vincent Ochoa, and Mark Jossel Mariano.
Antonio, Ochoa, Mejia, Porras, Bernas, and Silvederio were all victorious for two points each in the Rapid game, while Cesar Mariano settled for a draw for a 13-1 score in favor of Kisela Knights.
“A very close match against another powerhouse opponent in Laguna. With this win, the horizon ahead for Iloilo is getting clear, we have a good chance to finish on top by the end of this conference,” said Kisela Knights owner Leo Sotaridona.
The Kingsmen, meanwhile, also surged to a 13-2 win-loss record in the standings following a 14-7 victory over Cavite Spartans and 17-4 annihilation of Isabela Knight Raiders.
Victories by International Master (IM) Joel Pimentel of Bacolod City, FM Nelson Mariano, Arena Grandmaster (AGM) Kajoy Acedo, FM Rouzon Roullo, and Adrian dela Cruz in the Rapid and Blitz event propelled the team against Spartans.
Pimentel, Mariano, Acedo, Roullo, Dela Cruz, Nayk Aguilar Segismar, and FM Judge Rosendo Bandal also scored wins in Blitz and Rapid events for Kingsmen’s victory over Knight Raiders.
“We never doubted the determination of our Kingsmen players to rise and beat the odds as shown in our two victories. We win as one! The Kingsmen’s way!” said Negros co-team owner Martin Olendo./PN
