MANILA – Iloilo Kisela Knights kicked off its 2022 Professional Chess Association of the Philippines Third Conference with three straight victories over the weekend at the Estancia Mall in Pasig City.
The Kisela Knights kicked off its campaign with an 11-8 victory over Davao where the Ilonggos faltered in the blitz game, 3-4, before bouncing back with an 8-4 win in the rapid event.
Grand Master Rogelio Antonio showed the way with three points in Board 1, while National Master Gio Mejia (Board 1), Karl Victor Ochoa (Board 2) and Rolly Parondo (Board 6) notched two points each.
Cherry Ann Mejia, meanwhile, settled for 1.5 points on the third board. Fritz Bryan Porras managed 0.5 of the possible three points in Board 5, while Mark Jossel Mariano dropped his blitz and rapid game in the seventh board.
The Kisela Knights went on to score two more victories on Sunday as they walloped Toledo Trojans, 15-6, followed by a close 11-10 escape over Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates.
The Kisela Knights actually had a pending Armageddon game against Negros Kingsmen after both teams ended with 10.5-10.5 score but the matches were postponed to a later date due to Typhoon Karding.
Unlike in the previous conferences where competitions were played virtually, the Kisela Knights and the rest of PCAP teams played over the board in the first five rounds of the PCAP third conference. The virtual competition will resume from the sixth round onwards.
“This is new for our players kasi the past few conferences ay puro online,” Kisela Knights head coach Hubert Canto said. “However, our players are veterans so hindi na sakanila bago ang over the board na laro.”
Prior to the start of the Third Conference, the Kisela Knights formally received their first runner-up trophy in the 2022 PCAP Wesley So Cup after falling short against Pasig Pirates.
Aside from its team award, the Kisela Knights also received the individual awards with Antonio bagging the Best Player of the Conference and GM Hovhannes Gabuzyan capturing the Best Import award./PN
