MANILA – Negros Kingsmen and Iloilo Kisela Knights kept their unblemished records intact in the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines’ (PCAP) San Miguel Corporation-Ayala Land Cup.
This, after the Kingsmen, cruised to a 6-0 win-loss record on Saturday evening, courtesy of a 14-7 thrashing of Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates and an 11.5-9.5 triumph against Toledo City Trojans.
Negros crushed Surigao, 6-1, behind victories by Randy Segarra, Rowelyn Acedo, Jenny Mayor, Theseus Benitez Jr., and Adrian dela Cruz, as well as draws by Mari Joseph Turquiza and Rolzon Roullo. In Rapid, the Kingsmen grabbed an 8-6 win.
The Kingsmen finished with an identical 3.5-3.5 record against Trojans in Blitz, with Turquiza and Roullo winning and Segarra, Benitez, and Dela Cruz being pushed to a draw.
Negros were once again locked in a close Blitz game with Toledo City, 8-6, with only Segarra, Turquiza, and Acedo earning two points in the first three boards and Benitez and Roullo settling for a point each.
“It was a much tighter contest for us,” said Kingsmen team manager Junaico Segismar. “Our players were pushed to the limit, especially in the Rapid, but good thing we were able to win a tightly contested match that could have gone either way.”
On the other hand, the Kisela Knights claimed their sixth victory on Saturday evening, defeating Cordova Dutchess Dagami Warriors, 16-5, in their lone match.
Iloilo pummeled Cordova in Blitz, 6-1, behind triumphs by Rogelio Antonio Jr., Karl Victor Ochoa, Cherry Ann Mejia, Cesar Mariano, Fritz Bryan Porras, and John Michael Silvederio. The Kisela Knights also trounced the Dutchess Dagami Warriors, 10-4, in the Rapid event./PN
