By ADRIAN STEWART CO
The Negros Island Region Kingsmen bounced back with a sweep, while the Iloilo Kisela Knights split their matches in the 2023 Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) All-Filipino Conference on Saturday night, March 11.
The Kingsmen opened the evening with a 13.5-7.5 victory over Pasig City King Pirates before following it up with a close 11.5-9.5 escape over Magic Mandaluyong Tigers for a 12-1 record.
The Kingsmen was forced to a 3.5-3.5 deadlock by the King Pirates in the blitz game, with David Elorta and Rogelio Antonio, Jr. submitting full points each, while Ellan Asuela, Joel Pimentel and Xavier Vendun splitting their points.
The Kingsmen created the separation in the rapid event with a 10-4 beating of Pasig City as Asuela, Antonio, Bernadette Galas, and Jerich Cajeras delivered the full two points and Elorta and Pimentel settled for a draw.
The Kingsmen started strong against the Tigers with a 5.5-1.5 victory in the blitz event courtesy of full points by Elorta, Galas, Antonio, Pimentel, and Verdun, and half point from Pimentel.
However, the Negrenses were denied a convincing win by Mandaluyong as the latter hacked out an 8-6 win in the rapid game with Elorta and Antonio only getting the full two points and Pimentel and Galas splitting.
“This is a good bounce back for us,” Kingsmen co-team manager Nayk Segismar said.
“These two close victories against two quality and powerhouse opponents were a good test of character for us,” he added.
On the other hand, the Kisela Knights suffered a 15.5-5.5 defeat to the Tigers before bouncing back with a 16.5-4.5 domination over the Quezon City Simba’s Tribe for an 8-5 record.
The Ilonggos walloped the Simba’s Tribe in the blitz event, 6.5-0.5, with Horizon Villanueva, Jovelyn Sepanton, Cesar Mariano, Fritz Porras, Rolly Parondo Jr., and Mark Mariano garnering full points each and Lloyd Lanciola splitting point.
The Kisela Knights also edged Quezon City in the rapid game, 10-4, on two points each from Villanueva, Sepanton, Cesar Mariano, and Parondo, while Lanciola and Mark Mariano settled for draws./ASC, WDJ