By Adrian Stewart Co
Negros Kingsmen and Iloilo Kisela Knights maintained their untarnished record in the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) San Miguel Corporation-Ayala Land Cup.
The Kingsmen cruised to a 6-0 win-loss record on Saturday evening following a 14-7 domination over Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates and 11.5-9.5 escape over Toledo City Trojans.
Negros dominated Surigao in blitz game, 6-1, behind victories by Randy Segarra (Board 1), Rowelyn Acedo (Board 3), Jenny Mayor (Board 4), Theseus Benitez Jr. (Board 5), and Adrian dela Cruz (Board 7) and draws by Mari Joseph Turquiza (Board 2) and Rolzon Roullo (Board 6).
The Kingsmen, however, slowed down in the rapid game with a slim 8-6 win with only Acedo, Roullo and Dela Cruz garnering the perfect two points, while Turquiza and Benitez shared points with their opponents.
The Kingsmen were challenged further in the blitz game against Trojans as they ended with identical 3.5-3.5 with Turquiza and Roullo taking the wins and Segarra, Benitez and Dela Cruz forced to a draw.
Negros was again engaged in a tight blitz game with Toledo City, 8-6, with only Segarra, Turquiza and Acedo taking the full two points in the first three boards and Benitez and Roullo settling for a point each.
“It was a much tighter contest for us,” said Kingsmen team manager Junaico Segismar. “Our players were pushed to the limit, especially in the rapid, but good thing we were able to win a tightly contested match that could have gone either way.”
The Kisela Knights, on the other hand, notched their sixth victory as they dominated Cordova Dutchess Dagami Warriors, 16-5, in their lone match on Saturday evening.
Iloilo mauled Cordova in blitz, 6-1, courtesy of triumphs by Rogelio Antonio Jr. (Board 1), Karl Victor Ochoa (Board 2), Cherry Ann Mejia (Board 3), Cesar Mariano (Board 4), Fritz Bryan Porras (Board 5), and John Michael Silvederio (Board 6).
The Kisela Knights also defeated the Dutchess Dagami Warriors in the rapid events, 10-4, courtesy of two-pointers each from Antonio, Ochoa, Mejia, Mariano and Porras./ASC, WDJ