MANILA – Iloilo Kisela Knights and Negros Kingsmen swept their two matches in the 2022 Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) Wesley So Cup on Saturday night.
The defending champions Kisela Knights stayed on top of Southern Division standings with 27-2 following lopsided victories against Surigao (18-3) and Toledo Trojans (13.5-7.5).
Iloilo cruised to a 6-1 win over Surigao in the blitz on full points each from Hovhannes Gabuzyan (Board 1), Karl Victor Ochoa (Board 2), Cherry Ann Mejia (Board 3), Rogelio Antonio Jr. (Board 4), Rolly Parondo Jr. (Board 6) and Cesar Mariano (Board 7).
The Kisela Knights also prevailed over Surigao in rapid event, 12-2, with two-pointers from Gabuzyan, Mejia, Antonio, Fritz Bryan Porras (Board 6) and Mariano and splits from Ochoa and Parondo.
The Kisela Knights also dominated Toledo in blitz event, 5.5-1.5, with one point each from Ochoa (Board 1), Gabuzyan (Board 2), Mejia, Antonio and Parondo and half point from Porras.
The Ilonggos, however, were pushed to the limit by Toledo in rapid game, 8-6, with only Gabuzyan, Mejia and Parondo earning the full two points and Porras and Mariano settling for splits.
The Kingsmen, on the other hand, stayed at second place in the Southern Division with its 22-7 record following a close 11.5-9.5 escape over Davao and 14.5-6.5 beating of Zamboanga.
After settling for 7-7 draw in rapid game with Davao, the Negrenses scored a 4.5-2.5 win via full points by Edmundo Gatus (Board 4), Ellan Asuela (Board 5) and Joel Pimentel (Board 6) and splits by David Elorta (Board 1), Bernadette Galas (Board 3) and Ted Montoyo (Board 7).
The Kingsmen edged Davao, 4.5-2.5, in the blitz event on full one point from Elorta, Brylle Arellano (Board 2), Galas and Pimentel, while Gatus halved point with his Board 4 opponent.
The Negrenses, however, dominated Davao in the rapid game, 10-4, on two-points each by Elorta, Arellano, Galas and Pimentel and splits from Asuela and Rolzon Roullo (Board 7)./PN
