By Adrian Stewart Co

Negros Kingsmen continued its uprising in the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) San Miguel Corporation-Ayala Land Cup by sweeping their two foes on Wednesday night.

The Kingsmen opened the evening with a 14-7 win over Mindoro Tamaraws before following it up with a close 11.5-9.5 escape over Penang as they remained at fourth spot in Southern Division with 14-7 win-loss slate.

Negros barely escaped Mindoro in blitz game, 4-3, with victories by Jose Mari Turqueza (Board 2), Jenny Mayor (Board 4) and Adrian dela Cruz (Board 6) and draws by Rowelyn Joy Acedo (Board 3) and Rolzon Roullo (Board 7).

The Kingsmen were much more dominant in rapid event, 10-4, via wins by Nelson Mariano (Board 1), Turqueza, Acedo, and Roullo and deadlocks by Mayor and Theseus Benitez (Board 5).

The Kingsmen, meanwhile, were held to a draw by Penang in the blitz event, 3.5-3.5, with only Mariano, Turqueza and Acedo scoring victories and Mayor being held to a draw.

Negros ruled over Penang in rapid event, 8-6, behind wins by Turqueza, Acedo and Dela Cruz and deadlocks from Mariano and Roullo.

“These are morale boosting victories for us as we are close to the playoffs round,” said Kingsmen team manager Junaico Segismar. “The target is for the team to stay at fourth spot in the standings with still a game left in our schedule.”

Iloilo Kisela Knights, meanwhile, split their matches as they suffered a 12.5-8.5 defeat to SinQGApore before scoring a 13.5-7.5 annihilation of Penang to stay on top with 16-5 record.

The Kisela Knights walloped Penang in the blitz game behind wins by Karl Viktor Ochoa (Board 2), Cesar Mariano (Board 4) and John Michael Silvederio (Board 5) and draws by Rogelio Antonio Jr. (Board 1), Cherry Ann Mejia (Board 3) and Fritz Porras (Board 6).

Iloilo also ruled the rapid game behind Mejia, Cesar Mariano, Porras, and Mark Jossel Mariano (Board 7) and a draw from Ochoa./ASC, WDJ