Negros Kingsmen bucked the absence of American FIDE Master Steven Breckenridge to split their games in the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) GM Wesley So Cup on Saturday night.

The Kingsmen started the evening with an 11.5-9.5 win over Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates before suffering a harrowing 15-6 defeat at Camarines Soaring Eagle.

Negros edged Surigao in the blitz game, 5.5-1.5, on victories by Rayelynn Posadas (Board 3), Jason Bandal Jr. (Board 4), Joel Pimentel (Board 5), Rolzon Roullo (Board 6), and Nayk Segismar (Board 7) and a draw by Nelson Mariano III (Board 1).

The Kingsmen, however, faltered in the rapid event with only Randy Segarra (Board 2) and Roullo (Board 6) scoring victories while Posadas (Board 3) and Segismar (Board 7) settled for a draw.

The Kingsmen failed to score a follow-up for its close victory against the Fianchetto Checkmates as they were haplessly beaten by Camarines in the blitz (2-5) and rapid events (4-10).

It was only Pimentel (Board 5) and Roullo (Board 6) who won in blitz for the Kingsmen against Soaring Eagles, and Bandal (Board 3) and Pimentel (Board 4) in the rapid event.

According to Kingsmen’s co-team owner Antonio Martin Olendo, the team decided to sit out Breckenridge against Surigao and Camarines as they opt to go their usual local rotation.

“FM Steven is fine with the team. It was a team decision to rest him and he will return on Wednesday,” Olendo said. “The team is just coasting along. We do not want a repeat of the First Conference where we go all out in eliminations only to lose in the playoffs.”

Iloilo Kisela Knights, meanwhile, had a bad Saturday evening after tasting defeat at the hands of Cordova Dutchess Dagami Warriors (11.5-9.5) and Zamboanga Sultans (12-9).

With the outcomes, the Kingsmen improved to two wins and three losses, while the Kisela Knights dropped to three victories and two losses in the Southern Division standings./ASC,WDJ