MANILA – Negros Kingsmen bucked the absence of American FIDE Master Steven Breckenridge to split their games in the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) GM Wesley So Cup on Saturday night.
The Kingsmen opened the evening with an 11.5-9.5 escape over Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates before suffering a harrowing 15-6 defeat at the hands of Camarines Soaring Eagle.
Negros edged the Surigao in blitz game, 5.5-1.5, on wins by Rayelynn Posadas (Board 3), Jason Bandal Jr. (Board 4), Joel Pimentel (Board 5), Rolzon Roullo (Board 6) and Nayk Segismar (Board 7) and a draw by Nelson Mariano III (Board 1).
The Kingsmen, however, faltered in rapid event with only Randy Segarra (Board 2) and Roullo (Board 6) scoring victories and Posadas (Board 3) and Segismar (Board 7) settling for a draw.
The Kingsmen was unable to score a follow up in its close victory against the Fianchetto Checkmates as they were haplessly beaten by Camarines in the blitz (2-5) and rapid events (4-10).
It was only Pimentel (Board 5) and Roullo (Board 6) who scored a win in blitz for the Kingsmen against Soaring Eagles, and Bandal (Board 3) and Pimentel (Board 4) in the rapid event.
Kingsmen co-team owner Antonio Martin Olendo said it was the team’s decision to sit out Breckenridge against Surigao and Camarines as they opted to go their usual local rotation.
“FM Steven is fine with the team. It was a team decision to rest him and he will return on Wednesday,” Olendo said. “The team is just coasting along. We do not want a repeat of the First Conference where we go all out in eliminations only to lose in the playoffs.”
Iloilo Kisela Knights, meanwhile, had a forgetful Saturday evening as they suffered defeat at the hands of Cordova Dutchess Dagami Warriors (11.5-9.5) and Zamboanga Sultans (12-9).
The Kingsmen improved to two wins and three losses, while the Kisela Knights dropped to three victories and two losses in the Southern Division standings./PN
