By Adrian Stewart Co

Negros Kingsmen and Iloilo Kisela Knights were both on the winning track in the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) GM Wesley So Cup on Saturday evening, June 5.

The Kingsmen started the evening with a 12-9 victory over Palawan Queen’s Gambit before following it up with a 17-4 romp of Mindoro Tamaraws to improve to 6-6 win-loss record.

After losing their blitz game against Palawan, they bounced back in the rapid event via wins by Steven Breckenridge (Board 2), Jason Bandal Jr. (Board 4), Rosendo Bandal (Board 5), and Adrian dela Cruz (Board 7) and a draw from Rolzon Roullo (Board 6).

The Kingsmen, however, had a great blitz game against Tamaraws after triumphs from Nelson Mariano III (Board 1), Breckenridge (Board 2), Kajoy Acedo (Board 3), Bandal Jr. (Board 4), and Bandal (Board 5).

Negros also edged Mindoro in rapid event via wins by Mariano (Board 1), Acedo (Board 3), Bandal Jr. (Board 4), Roullo (Board 6), Dela Cruz (Board 7) and draws from Breckenridge (Board 2) and Bandal (Board 5).

“The Kingsmen finally showed their true worth this conference with back-to-back victories against solid opponents,” Kingsmen co-team owner Martin Olendo told Watchmen Daily Journal.

The Kisela Knights, on the other hand, also had a great showing in its two matches as they defeated Cebu City Machers, 15-6, before following it up with a 17-4 rout of Toledo City Trojans to improve to 8-3.

Against the Machers, the Kisela Knights dominated the blitz game behind Kamil Dragun (Board 1), Fiona Geeweneth Guirhem (Board 3), Cesar Mariano (Board 4), John Michael Silvederio (Board 5), Dennis Bernas (Board 6), and Mark Mariano (Board 7).

Iloilo also edged Cebu in rapid event following wins by Rogelio Antonio (Board 2), Cherry Ann Mejia (Board 3), Cesar Mariano (Board 4), Silvederio (Board 5), and a draw from Dragun (Board 1).

Iloilo also dominated Toledo in blitz game after wins by Dragun (Board 1), Antonio (Board 2), Mejia (Board 3), Cesar Mariano (Board 4), and Mark Jossel Mariano (Board 7) and a draw by Silvederio (Board 6).

The Kisela Knights were also impressive in rapid against the Trojans via triumphs from Dragun (Board 1), Mejia (Board 3), Cesar Mariano (Board 4), Bernas (Board 5), and Mark Mariano (Board 7) and draws from Antonio (Board 2) and Silvederio (Board 6)./ASC, WDJ