By ADRIAN STEWART CO
The Iloilo Kisela Knights and Negros Kingsmen maintained their positioning in the 2022 Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) Third Conference after sweeping their separate opponents on Wednesday evening, November 23.
The Kisela Knights stayed at no. 2 in the Southern Division standings at 28-4 following a 17-4 domination of Cagayan de Oro (CDO), Misamis Oriental and the 20.5-0.5 annihilation of the Cebu squad.
Karl Victor Ochoa (Board 2), Cherry Ann Mejia (Board 3), Fritz Porras (Board 5), Mark Mariano (Board 6), and Horizon Villanueva (Board 7) scored a point each, while Rolly Parondo (Board 1) and Cesar Mariano (Board 4) split as Iloilo edged CDO in a blitz, 6-1.
Ochoa, Mejia, Cesar Mariano, Porras, and Villanueva then captured the full two points in the blitz event as Mark Mariano settled for a point as the Kisela Knights defeated CDO, 11-3.
Against Cebu, Parondo saved his blitz before getting two full points quickly. Iloilo’s Giovanni Mejia, Ochoa, Fiona Geeweneth Guirhem, Porras, and John Michael Silvederio outlasted their opponents.
On the other hand, the Kingsmen are still in third spot of the division with a 27-5 win-loss slate following a close 11.5-9.5 escape over Palawan and a 16-5 domination over Tacloban.
The Negrenses edged Palawan in the blitz game, 4.5-2.5, with full points by David Elorta (Board 1), Ellan Asuela (Board 5), Joel Pimentel (Board 6), and Rolzon Roullo (Board 7) and a split point by Mari Joseph Turquiza (Board 2).
Meanwhile, the Kingsmen were dragged to a 7-7 draw by Palawan in the rapid event with only Bernadette Galas (Board 3) and Pimentel getting the two points and Elorta, Turquiza and Edmundo Gatus (Board 4) splitting points with their opponents.
They also showed their way against Palawan in the blitz event, 5-2, following full points apiece from Elorta, Galas, Gatus, Roullo (Board 6), and Ted Ian Montoyo (Board 7).
The Negrenses also prevailed over Palawan in the rapid event, 11-3, with Elorta, Gatus, Alvin Alcala (Board 5), Roullo, and Montoyo finishing with two points each and Galas settling for a split./ASC, WDJ