By ADRIAN STEWART CO

The Iloilo Kisela Knights and Negros Kingsmen capped off the elimination round of the 2022 Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) Third Conference with separate wins on Saturday night, November 26.

The Kisela Knights scored a 4-3 escape in the blitz game and 9-5 triumph in the rapid event for a 13-8 victory over PCL-Pagadian to remain in second place in the Southern Division standings with 29-4.

The Kisela Knights got full points each from Karl Victor Ochoa in Board 2, Rolly Parondo, Jr. in Board 5, John Michael Silvederio in Board 6, and Horizon Villanueva in Board 7 to take the blitz win.

The Ilonggos got two points apiece from Ochoa, Fiona Geeneweth Guirhem in Board 3 and Parondo, and splits from Giovanni Mejia in Board 1, Silvederio and Villanueva from rapid game.

“It was a tough game against PCL-Pagadian but good preparation for the players heading into the playoffs round this Wednesday,” Kisela Knights head coach Hubert Canto said.

On the other hand, the Kingsmen cruised to a 4-3 victory in the blitz event and a 10-4 rout in the rapid game for a 14-7 triumph against Cebu City Machers for third place in the division with 28-5.

The Negrenses turned back the Cebuanos in the blitz event with full points by Joel Pimentel (Board 1), Edsel Montoya (Board 2), Rolzon Roullo (Board 7), 0.50 by Bernadette Galas (Board 3), and Ted Ian Montoyo (Board 5).

The Kingsmen also dominated the Machers in the rapid event, following the full two points each from Pimentel, Montoyo, Galas, and Montoya and one point each from Galas and Roullo.

“It was nice for us to have a winning streak going into the first round of the playoffs,” Kingsmen co-team manager Nayk Segismar said.

“This will definitely boost the team to go deep in the post-season,” he added.

The Kisela Knights will be facing Camarines-Iriga Soaring Eagle in the double-round first round playoffs on Wednesday night, November 30, while the Kingsmen will tangle with Ventura Palawan-Albay Queens’ Gambit./ASC, WDJ