MANILA – Negros Kingsmen notched the solo first place in the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) first conference as Iloilo Kisela Knights scored two lopsided wins on Saturday night.
The Kingsmen pulled off an 11.5-9.5 escape over Toledo City Trojans in a match where the Negrenses were badly beaten in the blitz game, 1.5-5.5, with FIDE Master (FM) Nelson Mariano taking the lone win and Adrian dela Cruz settling for a draw.
The Kingsmen bounced back against the Trojans in rapid event, 10-4, with victories from Mariano, Raye Posadas, FM Rosendo Bandal, and International Master (IM) Joel Pimentel and draws from FM Randy Segarra and FM Rolzon Roullo.
“Big character win for us. The team have shown so much maturity to overcome adversity and tremendous pressure,” Kingsmen co-team owner Martin Olendo said after his team improved to league-leading 24-3 win-loss slate.
Prior to the close win against Trojans, the Kingsmen scored a 17-4 win over Palawan Queen’s Gambit with a 6-1 win in blitz events from Mariano, Segarra, Bandal, Pimentel, Roullo, and Junaico Segismar.
The Negros also have a lopsided win against Palawan in the rapid event, 11-3, with triumphs from Mariano, Bandal, Pimentel, Roullo, and Segismar and a draw from Segarra.
The Kisela Knights, on the other hand, posted a 16-5 win over Cebu City Machers and a 12.5-8.5 domination over Zamboanga Sultans to move up to second place in the Southern Division with 23-4 record.
Facing Cebu City, Iloilo dominated the blitz event, 5-2, following victories by Giovanni Mejia, Cherry Ann Mejia, Cesar Mariano, John Michael Silvederio, and Lloyd Lanciola.
In the rapid event, the Kisela Knights also walloped Machers, 11-3, following wins by Grand Master Joey Antonio Jr., Karl Viktor Ochoa, Cherry Ann Mejia, Fritz Bryan Porras, and Lanciola and a draw by Mark Jossel Mariano.
After settling for a 3.5 draw in blitz event against Sultans, the Kisela Knights recovered in rapid event on wins by Antonio, Cherry Ann Mejia, Silvederio, and Porras and a draw by Ochoa./PN
