MANILA – Iloilo Kisela Knights and Negros Kingsmen shared the top spot in the Southern Division after their Wednesday night matches in the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines’ (PCAP) first conference.
The Kisela Knights opened the night with an 11.5-9.5 escape over Pasig City King Pirates where they bounced back in the Rapid event, 8-6, after settling for a 3.5-3.5 draw in Blitz event.
National Masters (NM) John Michael Silvederio, Ilonggo Fritz Brian Porras, and Dennis Bernas scored two points each for Iloilo in their Rapid match against Pasig, while Grand Master Joey Antonio and Women FIDE Master Cherry Ann Mejia settled for a point each.
The Kisela Knights, however, had a much better outing in the second game as they walloped Quezon City Simba’s Tribe, 18.5-2.5, where the Ilonggos dominated the Blitz event in 4.5-2.5 score and Rapid event in 14-0 score.
Scoring a point each for the Kisela Knights in the Blitz game against Simba’s Pride were Silvederio, Porras, Ilongga Fiona Guirhem, and NM Giovanni Mejia. Antonio settled for a draw.
Silvederio, Porras, Bernas, Mejia, Antonio, Karl Victor Ochoa, and NM Cesar Mariano each snagged two points each for the Kisela Knights in their total domination in the Rapid event against Simba’s Pride.
“Team Iloilo has to maintain the winning streak to be able to keep in step with the leading teams in the Southern Division,” according to Kisela Knights owner Leo Sotaridona.
The Kisela Knights has a standing of 16-3 win-loss slate tying the Kingsmen, which split their Wednesday matches by losing to Laguna Heroes, 12.5-8.5, and winning Antipolo Cobras, 15-6.
After losing to the Heroes, the Kingsmen vented their ire on Cobras with a 12-2 victory in Rapid event behind wins by International Master (IM) Joel Pimentel, IM Nelson Mariano III, Arena Grand Master (AGM) Rowelyn Joy Acedo, NM Rolzon Roullo, FM Rosendo Bandal, Jr., and Adrian dela Cruz.
“Despite losing to Laguna in our first game, I’m glad our players showed their heart and bounced back to win vs. Antipolo to maintain our lead in the South,” said Kingsmen co-team owner Carlo Fontelo./PN
