By Adrian Stewart Co
Iloilo Kisela Knights and Negros Kingsmen kept their unblemished slate following their Wednesday matches in the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) San Miguel Corporation-Ayala Land Cup.
The Kisela Knights opened the evening with an 18.5-2.5 domination over Camarines Soaring Eagle before having the same score against the Cebu City Machers to make it 5-0 in the standings.
Iloilo leaned on victories by Karl Ochoa (Board 2), Cherry Ann Mejia (Board 3), Cesar Mariano (Board 4), Fritz Porras (Board 5), John Silvederio (Board 6), and Mark Mariano (Board 7) and a draw by Joel Antonio in Board 1 to dominate Camarines in blitz game.
The Kisela Knights showed the same intensity over the Soaring Eagle in the rapid event with two points each by Ochoa, Mejia, Cesar Mariano, Porras, Silvederio, and Mark Mariano and another draw from Antonio.
Iloilo did not show signs of slowing down against Cebu with strong blitz game performances by Antonio, Ochoa, Mejia, Cesar Mariano, Silvederio, and Mark Mariano and a draw from Porras at the sixth board.
The Kisela Knights also got Machers numbers in rapid game with Antonio (Board 1), Gio Mejia (Board 2), Cherry Mejia (Board 3), Cesar Mariano (Board 4), Porras (Board 6), and Mark Mariano (Board 7) scoring wins.
The Kingsmen, on the other hand, were victorious in their lone game of the evening against Palawan Queen’s Gambit, 19.5-1.5, to register its fourth victory in as many games.
The Kingsmen showed prowess in blitz event following wins by Nelson Mariano III (Board 1), Mari Joseph Turqueza (Board 2), Jenny Mayor (Board 4), Adrian dela Cruz (Board 5), and Rolzon Roullo (Board 7) and a draw by Rowelyn Acedo on the third.
The Negrenses showed the same efficiency over the Palawenos in rapid event with Mariano, Turqueza, Acedo, Mayor, Dela Cruz, Theseus Benitez Jr., and Roullo garnering two-pointers each.
“Negros is in high spirits after a huge win over Palawan. It could be that very desired team unity and that sense of togetherness all season-long that is carrying the Kingsmen to greater heights,” said Kingsmen co-team owner Martin Olendo./ASC, WDJ