By ADRIAN STEWART CO
The Negros Kingsmen continued their uprising in the 2022 Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) Third Conference after sweeping their two matches on Wednesday night, November 16.
The Kingsmen opened the evening with a 15-6 domination over Toledo City Trojans before scoring a close 11.5-9.5 victory over Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates to stay at no. 3 in the Southern Division with a 23-5 record.
Negros cruised to a 5-2 triumph over Toledo City in the blitz behind full points by Mari Joseph Turquiza (Board 2), Bernadette Galas (Board 3), Edmundo Gatus (Board 4), and Ellan Asuela (Board 5) and 0.5 by David Elorta (Board 1) and Joel Pimentel (Board 6).
The Kingsmen also held off the Trojans in the rapid event, 10-4, on two points by Turquiza, Galas and Edsel Montoya (Board 7) and one point by Elorta, Gatus, Asuela, and Pimentel.
The Kingsmen edged the Checkmates in a blitz game, 5.5-1.5, with Galas, Gatus, Asuela, Pimentel, and Montoya beating their opponents, while Turquiza settled for a half point with his opponent.
However, the Negrenses suffered a close 6-8 loss to Surigao, with only Galas and Montoya capturing the full two points, and Turquiza and Pimentel splitting with their counterparts.
The Iloilo Kisela Knights, on the other hand, settled for a split in their double header after suffering a 13-8 defeat to Fianchetto Checkmates before scoring a 14-7 win over Camarines-Iriga. They stayed in second place with 26-4.
The Kisela Knights managed to score a slim 4-3 victory against the Fianchetto Checkmates in the blitz event, but the latter bounced back in the rapid game with a 10-4 triumph to bag the match win.
Iloilo, however, turned back Camarines-Iriga, 7-0, in a blitz with full points each by Rolly Parondo, Jr., Karl Victor Ochoa, Cherry Ann Mejia, Cesar Mariano, Mark Jossel Mariano, John Michael Silvederio, and Horizon Villanueva.
The Kisela Knights struggled a bit in the rapid game as they were forced to a 7-7 draw by Camarines-Iriga with only Parondo and Mejia getting the full two points, while Ochoa, Mark Mariano and Villanueva settled for split points./ASC, WDJ