MANILA – Iloilo Kisela Knights and Negros Kingsmen were both on a winning track in the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) GM Wesley So Cup on Saturday evening.
The Kisela Knights opened the night with a 15-6 domination over Cebu City Machers and followed it up with a 17-4 beating of Toledo City Trojans to upgrade to an 8-3 win-loss record.
Against the Machers, the Kisela Knights owned the blitz game behind Kamil Dragun (Board 1), Fiona Geeweneth Guirhem (Board 3), Cesar Mariano (Board 4), John Michael Silvederio (Board 5), Dennis Bernas (Board 6), and Mark Mariano (Board 7).
Iloilo also edged Cebu in the rapid event following triumphs by Rogelio Antonio (Board 2), Cherry Ann Mejia (Board 3), Cesar Mariano (Board 4), and Silvederio (Board 5), and a draw from Dragun (Board 1).
The Kisela Knights sacked the Trojans in the blitz game after victories by Dragun (Board 1), Antonio (Board 2), Mejia (Board 3), Cesar Mariano (Board 4), and Mark Jossel Mariano (Board 7) and a draw by Silvederio (Board 6).
Iloilo had an extraordinary performance in the rapid over the Trojans via wins from Dragun (Board 1), Mejia (Board 3), Cesar Mariano (Board 4), Bernas (Board 5), and Mark Mariano (Board 7) and draws from Antonio (Board 2) and Silvederio (Board 6).
“Another impressive performance by the team, most notably are the perfect scores of our lady and senior categories,” said Kisela Knights team owner Leo Sotaridona. “But homegrown alternate Mark Jossel Mariano was most impressive in two matches.”
On the other hand, the Kingsmen have a remarkable showing in their two matches after ousting Palawan Queen’s Gambit, 12-9, and a 17-4 beating of Mindoro Tamaraws to grab a 6-6 slate.
After losing their blitz against Palawan, the Kingsmen bounced back in the rapid event behind wins by Steven Breckenridge (Board 2), Jason Bandal Jr. (Board 4), Rosendo Bandal (Board 5) and Adrian dela Cruz (Board 7), and a draw from Rolzon Roullo (Board 6).
The Kingsmen, however, ruled the blitz game against Tamaraws after triumphs from Nelson Mariano III (Board 1), Breckenridge (Board 2), Kajoy Acedo (Board 3), Bandal Jr. (Board 4), and Bandal (Board 5).
Negros also conquered Mindoro in the rapid event via wins by Mariano (Board 1), Acedo (Board 3), Bandal Jr. (Board 4), Roullo (Board 6), and dela Cruz (Board 7) and draws from Breckenridge (Board 2) and Bandal (Board 5)./PN
