MANILA – Negros Kingsmen had a perfect Wednesday evening in the 2022 Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) Wesley So Cup. They swept two opponents.
The Kingsmen opened the double-header with a 14.5-6.5 domination over Cavite before following it up with a 12.5-8.5 beating of Quezon as they moved up in the Southern Division standings with 14-5 record.
Negros edged Cavite in the blitz game, 5.5-1.5, with full points from Ellan Asuela (Board 1), Brylle Arellano (Board 2), Edmundo Gatus (Board 4), and Joel Pimentel (Board 5) and splits by Bernadette Galas (Board 3), Rolzon Roullo (Board 6) and Edsel Montoya (Board 7).
The Kingsmen also prevailed over Cavite in the rapid event, 9-5, with two points each from Asuela, Galas, Gatus and Pimentel and a split point from Arellano.
The Kingsmen, however, were forced to a 3.5-3.5 deadlock in the blitz event by Quezon with only Asuela, Arellano and Gatus attaining full points and Alvin Alcala (Board 6) ending with 0.5.
The Negrenses created the much-needed separation in the rapid game with a 9-5 triumph on full two points each by Asuela, Arellano and Galas and one point each by Gatus, Alcala and Ted Ian Montoyo (Board 7).
“The team is glad to score two precious victories despite playing with an All-Filipino lineup,” said Negros co-team manager Nayk Segismar. “Hopefully magsunod sunod na ang wins namin.”
Defending champions Iloilo Kisela Knights, on the other hand, opened the evening with a 16-5 beating of Isabela before suffering their first loss of the season at the hands of Manila, 11-10. They now have an 18-1 record.
Iloilo walloped Isabela in the blitz event, 5-2, on full points by Hovhannez Gabuzyan (Board 1), Fiona Geeweneth Guirhem (Board 3), Rolly Parondo Jr. (Board 5), John Michael Silvederio (Board 6) and Cesar Mariano (Board 7).
The Kisela Knights continued its mastery of Isabela with an 11-3 triumph in the rapid game with Gabuzyan, Guirhem, Rogelio Antonio Jr. (Board 4), Silvederio and Mariano attaining two points each and Parondo settling for a split./PN
