MANILA – Iloilo Kisela Knights and Negros Kingsmen settled for split of their matches in the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) GM Wesley So Cup on Saturday evening.
The Kisela Knights opened the evening with an 18-3 manhandling of Lapu-Lapu City Naki Warriors but could not follow it up after losing their second game against Camarines Soaring Eagle, 13-8, to drop to a 6-3 record.
Against the Naki Warriors, the Kisela Knights ruled the blitz event with wins by Kamil Dragun (Board 1), Karl Victor Ochoa (Board 2), Cherry Ann Mejia (Board 3), Cesar Mariano (Board 4), John Michael Silvederio (Board 5), and Dennis Bernas (Board 7).
Iloilo also dominated the Lapu-Lapu City in the rapid event following triumphs by Dragun (Board 1), Rogelio Antonio Jr. (Board 2), Mejia (Board 3), Silvederio (Board 5), Fritz Bryan Porras (Board 6), and Bernas (Board 7).
However, The Kisela Knights struggled against the Soaring Eagle in a match where Camarines’ local Mark Paragua forced Iloilo’s reinforcement Dragun to draws in rapid and blitz event.
“One of the key defining moments is GM Paragua holding his board against our import. On a positive note for Philippine chess, it somehow shows once again our local players can be at par with foreign elite players,” said Leo Sotaridona, Kisela Knights’ team owner.
Just like the Kisela Knights, the Kingsmen were inconsistent anew as they scored a 13-8 victory over Cebu Machers before surrendering a close 11-10 defeat to Toledo Trojans for a 4-6 record.
Against the Machers, the Kingsmen won in the blitz game, 4-3, following victories by Randy Segarra (Board 2), Joel Pimentel (Board 5), and Rolzon Roullo (Board 6) and draws by Steven Brekenridge (Board 1) and Junaico Segismar (Board 7).
Negros also ruled the rapid event, 9-5, after wins by Brekenridge (Board 1), Segarra (Board 2), Pimentel (Board 5), and Roullo (Board 6), and a draw from Rayelynn Posadad (Board 3).
Against the Trojans, it was in the blitz game where Toledo escaped with a marginal point against Negros, 4-3 after both teams settled for a 7-7 deadlock in the rapid event./PN
