MANILA – Iloilo Kisela Knights and Negros Kingsmen surged to their second victories in the 2022 Professional Chess Association of the Philippines All-Filipino Conference on Wednesday night.
The Kisela Knights, the third placer in last year’s All-Filipino tournament, moved to a share of top spot in the Southern Division standings following a 17-4 domination over the Iriga City Oragons.
The Kisela Knights encountered a tight blitz battle with City Oragons with only Giovanni Mejia (Board 2), Joey Antonio Jr. (Board 4) and Rolly Parnondo Jr. (Board 5) scoring wins and Fritz Porras (Board 1) and Fiona Guirhem (Board 3) settling for draws.
The Kisela Knights, however, bounced back in the rapid event with Porras, Mejia, Antonio, Parnondo, Cesar Mariano (Board 6) and Horizon Villanueva (Board 7) notching wins and Guirhem ending up in a draw.
The Kingsmen, on the other hand, recovered from a poor showing in the blitz game. They dominated Davao in the rapid event to pull off a come-from-behind 11-10 triumph for a 2-0 record.
The Kingsmen struggled in the blitz game with only David Elorta (Board 1) and Natori Biazza Diaz (Board 3) scoring victories against Davao, which now has Negros’ former player Rowelyn Joy Acedo.
The Kingsmen managed to bounce back in rapid game with a 9-5 victory courtesy of two-pointers by Elorta, Jose Mari Turqueza (Board 2), Edsel Montoya (Board 6) and Ted Montoyo (Board 7) and draw from Rolzon Roullo (Board 5).
The second game of Kisela Knights and Kingsmen against Davao and Camarines, meanwhile, have been postponed to a later date due to “technical issues.”
Only the rapid game of both matches were played where the Kisela Knights won over Davao, 6.5-0.5, and the Kingsmen also defeating Camarines, 6-1.
Action resume this Saturday with the Kisela Knights facing Camarines and Toledo City Trojans and the Kingsmen battling the City Trojans and Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates./PN
