By Adrian Stewart Co

Iloilo Kisela Knights bounced back in the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) GM Wesley So Cup after winning its two matches on Saturday night, June 19.

The Kisela Knights opened the evening with an 18-3 manhandling of Quezon City Simba’s Tribe before following it up with a 15.5-5.5 rout of Pasig City King Pirates to improve their slate to 10-8.

Facing the Simba’s Tribe, the Kisela Knights dominated the blitz game with wins by Hovhannes Gabuzyan (Board 1), Fiona Guirhem (Board 3), Cesar Mariano (Board 4), John Michael Silvederio (Board 5), Fritz Bryan Porras (Board 6), and Mark Mariano (Board 7).

Iloilo also ruled Quezon City in rapid event on wins by Gabuzyan (Board 1), Karl Viktor Ochoa (Board 2), Guirhem (Board 3), Silvederio (Board 5), Porras (Board 6), and Dennis Bernas (Board 7).

The Kisela Knights continued their winning ways against King Pirates in blitz wins by Gabuzyan (Board 1), Cesar Mariano (Board 4), Porras (Board 6), and Silvederio (Board 7) and a draw by Rogelio Antonio Jr. (Board 2).

Iloilo also edged Pasig City in rapid event on victories by Gabuzyan (Board 1), Cherry Ann Mejia (Board 3), Porras (Board 6), and Silvederio (Board 7) and draws by Antonio (Board 2), Cesar Mariano (Board 4) and Bernas (Board 5).

“It was huge victories by the Kisela Knights, most notably against Pasig,” Kisela Knights team owner Leo Sotaridona said. “We are very well on the right track to return to the playoffs round.”

Unlike Kisela Knights, the Negros Kingsmen were hit with disaster on Saturday evening as they dropped their two matches that pulled down their standings to 11-9 in the Southern Division.

The Kingsmen first suffered a 15.5-5.5 beating at the hands of Caloocan Loadmanna Knights before also being beaten by Antipolo Cobras by a point, 11-10, in the second game.

Kingsmen co-team owner Antonio Martin Olendo said the squad opted to go all-Filipino on the two matches as the team management decided to rest reinforcement Steven Breckenridge./ASC, WDJ