By ADRIAN STEWART CO
The Iloilo Kisela Knights and Negros Kingsmen bounced back with a pair of victories in the 2022 Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) Third Conference on Monday night, November 14.
The Kisela Knights opened the evening with a 13.5-7.5 victory over Cagayan Kings before defeating Manila Indios Bravos, 12.5-8.5, as they improved to 25-3 in the Southern Division standings.
After settling for a 3.5-3.5 draw in a blitz, the Ilonggos edged Cagayan in rapid event, 10-4, with two points from Giovanni Mejia, Karl Victor Ochoa, Cesar Mariano, and Rolly Parondo, Jr. and splits by Fiona Geeneweth Guirhem and Fritz Bryan Porras.
The Kisela Knights barely edged Manila in the blitz event, 4.5-2.5, with full points from Ochoa (Board 2), Cherry Ann Mejia (Board 3), Porras (Board 6), and Horizon Villanueva (Board 7) and half point by Parondo (Board 5).
The Ilonggos also barely defeated the Indios Bravos in the rapid game, 8-6, with John Michael Silvederio (Board 1), Ochoa and Porras garnering two points each and Mejia and Villanueva splitting points.
The Kingsmen also kicked off the double header with a 15.5-5.5 triumph over Cavite Spartans before walloping the Cagayan Kings, 15-6. The Negrenses currently have a 21-5 record.
The Kingsmen defeated the Spartans in the blitz game, 4.5-2.5, with full points each by David Elorta (Board 1), Mari Joseph Turquiza (Board 2), Ellan Asuela (Board 5), and Joel Pimentel (Board 6) and half point by Bernadette Galas (Board 3).
The Negrenses also edged Cavite in the rapid event, 11-3, with Elorta, Galas, Edmundo Gatus (Board 4), Asuela, and Pimentel notching two points apiece and Turquiza ending with a split.
Against the Kings, the Kingsmen scored a 5-2 victory in the blitz event on full points by Edsel Montoya (Board 2), Gatus, Asuela, and Pimentel and half points by Elorta and Ted Ian Montoyo (Board 7).
The Negrenses also prevailed over the Kings in the rapid game, 10-4, with two points each from Montoya, Pimentel and Montoyo and one point each from Elorta, Galas, Gatus, and Asuela.
On Saturday night, November 12, the Kisela Knights and the Kingsmen both suffered defeats to Davao Chess Eagles before bouncing back against Toledo City Trojans (12.5-8.5) and PECA Executives (14-7), respectively./ASC, WDJ