MANILA – Iloilo Kisela Knights returned to their winning ways after scoring a pair of triumphs in the 2022 Professional Chess Association of the Philippines Wesley So Cup on Saturday night.
The defending champions remained on top of th Southern Division standings with 23-2 win-loss slate following a 16-5 victory over Pagadian PCL and 14.5-6.5 beating of Davao.
Iloilo walloped Pagadian in blitz event, 6-1, with full points each from Giovanni Mejia (Board 2), Fiona Guirhem (Board 3), Rogelio Antonio Jr. (Board 4), Rolly Parondo Jr. (Board 5), Cesar Mariano (Board 6) and Horizon Villanueva (Board 7).
The Kisela Knights also dominated Pagadian in rapid event, 10-4, following full two-pointers each from Mejia, Guirhem, Antonio, Parondo and Villanueva.
Iloilo, however, were stunned by Davao in the blitz event, 2.5-4.5, with Antonio and Parondo only notching the full one point, while Mariano settled for 0.5.
The Kisela Knights bounced back in the rapid event, 12-2, with Hovhannez Gabuzyan (Board 1), Cherry Ann Mejia (Board 3), Antonio, Parondo, Mariano and Fritz Bryan Porras (Board 7).
“It was a good bounce back games for us,” said Kisela Knights head coach Hubert Canto. “We had a tough time against Davao in blitz but good thing we were able to recover in rapid game.”
Negros Kingsmen also had a perfect evening following a 11.5-9.5 beating of Palawan and a 13-8 triumph over Cebu. They currently have 19-6 win-loss record.
After losing the rapid game against Palawan, the Kingsmen bounced back in the blitz event, 5.5-1.5, on full points by David Elorta (Board 1), Edmundo Gatus (Board 4), Edsel Montoya (Board 5), Rolzon Roullo (Board 6) and Theseus Benitez (Board 7) and a split by Adelaide Lim (Board 3).
“It was a good pair of victories for us despite playing without our import. We just have to keep our team at the upper part of Southern Division standings,” said Kingsmen co-team manager Nayk Segismar./PN
