MANILA – Iloilo Kisela Knights and Negros Island Region (NIR) Kingsmen maintained their perfect record in the 2023 Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) All-Filipino Conference on Wednesday evening.
The Kisela Knights were pushed to the limit before pulling off a 11-10 victory over Davao Chess Eagles before scoring a 13-8 win over Zamboanga Sultans for a perfect 3-0 win-loss slate.
Against the Chess Eagle, the Ilonggos were forced to a 7-7 draw in rapid event before scoring a 4-3 win blitz behind full points by Jovelyn Sepanton, Cesar Mariano, Fritz Bryan Porras and Rolly Parondo Jr.
Against the Sultans, the Kisela Knights bowed in blitz game, 4-3, before bouncing back in rapid event, 10-4, courtesy of Mark Jossel Mariano, Cesar Mariano, Porras, Parondo and Horizon Villanueva.
“We are fortunate to pull off two huge upset wins with our All-Ilonggo lineup,” said Kisela Knights head coach Hyubs Canto. “We will just take it one game at a time and we know that it will be a challenging season for us.”
The Kingsmen, on the other hand, posted separate lopsided victories against Mindoro Tamaraws, 17-4, and the Chess Eagles, 15-6, to share the top spot of Southern Division standings with the Kisela Knights.
Against the Tamaraws, the Kingsmen scored a 5-2 win in blitz event behind full points by David Elorta (Board 1), Rogelio Antonio Jr. (Board 2), Bernadette Galas (Board 3), Joel Pimentel (Board 5) and Genesis Borromeo (Board 6).
The Negrenses also edged Mindoro in the rapid match, 12-2, with Elorta, Antonio, Galas, Pimentel, Ted Ian Montoyo (Board 6) and Jerich Cajares (Board 7) garnering two points each.
The Kingsmen were also dominant in blitz game against the Chess Eagle, 5-2, with Elorta, Pimentel, Galas and Antonio getting the full point, while Xavier Vendun and Ellan Asuela splitting points.
The revamped Negrenses side also prevailed over Davaoenos in rapid event, 10-4, courtesy of full two points each from Elorta, Pimentel, Galas, Antonio and Asuela./PN
