By Adrian Stewart Co
Negros Kingsmen and Iloilo Kisela Knights were both on a winning track in the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) GM Wesley So Cup on Wednesday evening.
The Kingsmen started the evening with a 17-4 domination over Quezon City Simba’s Tribe before following it up with an 11-10 escape over Pasig City King Pirates to improve to 12-9 win-loss record.
Against Quezon City, Negros ruled the blitz game on wins by Steven Breckenridge (Board 2), Kajoy Acedo (Board 3), Jason Bandal Jr. (Board 4), Joel Pimentel (Board 5), and Adrian dela Cruz (Board 7) and a draw from Nelson Mariano III (Board 1) and Rolzon Roullo (Board 6).
The Kingsmen also edged Simba’s Tribe in rapid event via wins by Breckenridge (Board 2), Acedo (Board 3), Bandal Jr. (Board 4), Pimentel (Board 5), and Roullo (Board 6) and a draw by Mariano (Board 1).
The Kingsmen were forced to a draw in the rapid event by King Pirates but were able to bounce back in blitz game on wins by Breckenridge (Board 1), Bandal Jr. (Board 4) and Roullo (Board 7) and draws by Mariano (Board 2) and Pimentel (Board 5).
“Huge wins for Negros. Playing at full strength, the Kingsmen had a dominant blitz portion to annihilate Quezon City up to the rapid event. Facing a Pasig City team with two GMs, the Kingsmen managed to eke out a close win over the higher seeded Pirates. Good job Kingsmen,” said Negros co-team owner Martin Olendo.
Just like the Kingsmen, the Kisela Knights opened the night with an 11-10 escape over first conference champions Laguna Heroes before following it up with a 16-5 whipping of Isabela Knight Raiders to improve to 16-5 win-loss record.
The Kisela Knights barely defeated Heroes in blitz game, 4-3, courtesy of Cherry Ann Mejia (Board 3), Cesar Mariano (Board 4), Dennis Bernas (Board 5), and John Michael Silvederio (Board 6).
Iloilo was held to a 7-7 draw by Laguna in rapid event as Mejia (Board 3) and Silvederio (Board 6) were the only winners, while Hovhannes Gabuzyan (Board 1), Mariano (Board 4) and Bernas (Board 5) settling for draw.
Iloilo, meanwhile, was able to bounce back against Isabela with a dominant blitz game from Gabuzyan (Board 1), Karl Victor Ochoa (Board 2), Mejia (Board 3), Porras (Board 5) and Silvederio (Board 6).
The Kisela Knights were also impressive in rapid against the Knight Raiders via triumphs from Gabuzyan (Board 1), Joey Antonio (Board 2), Porras (Board 5), Silvederio (Board 6), and Bernas (Board 7) and a draw by Mariano (Board 4)./ASC, WDJ