MANILA – Negros Kingsmen continued their hot streak in the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) GM Wesley So Cup by scoring twin victories on Wednesday night.
Negros recorded their first win of the night when they mauled Cavite Spartans, 16-5, and followed it up with an 11-10 beating of Cagayan Kings to advance to 11-7 standings.
Against Cavite, Negros ruled the blitz game with victories by Nelson Mariano III (Board 1), Steven Breckenridge (Board 2), Kajoy Acedo (Board 3), Joel Pimentel (Board 5), Rolzon Roullo (Board 6), and Adrian dela Cruz (Board 7).
The squad also dominated the rapid play over the Spartans via triumphs by Mariano (Board 1), Breckenridge (Board 2), Acedo (Board 3), Pimentel (Board 5), and dela Cruz (Board 7).
Negros struggled in the rapid game versus Cagayan but managed to bounce back and recovered in blitz game on triumphs by Breckenridge (Board 1), Acedo (Board 3), Reynaldo Flores (Board 4), Pimentel (Board 5), and Roullo (Board 6).
“We have contrasting victories. After routing Cavite in the opening game, we had a nail-biter against Cagayan, thanks to the heroics of Pimentel. Can’t ask for more on these twin results,” said Kingsmen co-team owner Martin Olendo.
On the other hand, Iloilo Kisela Knights underwent a 13-8 downfall to San Juan Predators before bouncing back with a 13.5-7.5 supremacy over Rizal Batch Towers for an 8-8 win-loss record.
After being forced to a 3.5-3.5 draw in the blitz category, the Kisela Knights then rallied against the Batch Towers in the rapid play, where they cruised to a 10-4 domination.
Iloilo’s rapid event victories can be credited to Cherry Ann Mejia (Board 3), Cesar Mariano (Board 4), John Michael Silvederio (Board 5), and Dennis Bernas and draws by Rogelio Antonio Jr. (Board 2) and Fritz Bryan Porras (Board 6).
“San Juan truly lives up to being the number one team in this tournament prior to this game. It was another tough and exciting game for us,” according to Kisela Knights’ team owner Leo Sotaridona./PN
