By Adrian Stewart Co
Negros Kingsmen continued its hot streak in the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) San Miguel Corporation-Ayala Land Cup after scoring a pair of victories on Saturday evening.
The Kingsmen opened the double header with a 16.5-4.5 annihilation of Olongapo Rainbow Team 7 before following it up with a 12.5-8.5 beating of Rizal Batch Towers for a 5-2 win-loss slate.
Negros walloped Olongapo in the blitz event, 6.5-0.5, following victories by Randy Segarra (Board 2), Rowelyn Acedo (Board 3), Jenny Mayor (Board 4), Rolzon Roullo (Board 5), Theseus Benitez (Board 6), and Junaico Segismar (Board 7) and a draw by Nelson Mariano in the first board.
The Kingsmen also dominated Rainbow Team 7 in rapid game, 10-4, with Acedo, Mayor, Roullo, Benitez, and Segismar defeating their counterparts to notch two points apiece.
The Kingsmen, however, were forced to a tight game by Rizal in the blitz event with Acedo, Mayor and Segismar scoring victories, while Mariano, Mari Turqueza (Board 2) and Roullo halving points with their opponents.
The Kingsmen were tested anew by the Batch Towers in rapid game with only Acedo and Mayor scoring victories, while Mariano, Turqueza, Roullo and Benitez being forced to draw.
“Our lady and senior board (Acedo and Mayor) were impeccable against Olongapo and Rizal,” said Segismar, who also serves as Negros’ team manager. “We needed just a little more contribution from the other boards in our succeeding games.”
Iloilo Kisela Knights, on the other hand, split their matches on Saturday as they won their opening match against the Batch Towers, 16-5, before bowing to Caloocan Loadmanna Knights, 13.5-7.5, for a 5-2 win-loss slate.
Against Rizal, Iloilo scored a 6-1 triumph in the blitz game behind wins by Karl Ochoa (Board 2), Cherry Ann Mejia (Board 3), Cesar Mariano (Board 4), Fritz Porras (Board 5), and John Silvederio (Board 6) and draws from Rogelio Antonio (Board 1) and Mark Mariano (Board 7).
The Kisela Knights also edged the Batch Towers in rapid event, 10-4, following triumphs by Mejia, Cesar Mariano and Silvederio and draws from Antonio, Ochoa, Porras, and Mark Mariano./ASC, WDJ