By ADRIAN STEWART CO

The Iloilo Kisela Knights and the Negros Island Region Kingsmen scored separate wins to close out the elimination round of the 2023 Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) First Conference over the weekend.

The Kisela Knights headed to the playoffs round with three straight victories after a 14-7 beating of Cebu Niños as they finished in fourth place in the Southern Division standings with a 15-13 slate.

The Kisela Knights had an 11-10 victory over Team Arriba Iriga City-Camarines Sur on April 12, before taking down Tacloban Vikings, 13-8, for their rare double-header sweep of this conference.

Against the Niños, the Kisela Knights scored a slim 4-3 victory in the blitz game behind full points by Hubert Canto, Mark Jossel Mariano, Rolly Parondo Jr., and John Michael Silvederio.

The Kisela Knights also scored a 10-4 triumph in the rapid game with Canto, Mariano, Cesar Mariano, Parondo, and Silvederio beating their opponents for the full two points each.

“To be on a three-game winning streak heading into the playoffs is a huge morale boost for us,” Canto said.

“We hope to bring the momentum when we face Surigao in the division quarterfinals,” he added.

The Southern Division top-seed Kingsmen also closed out their preliminary campaign on a high note after scoring a dominant 19.5-1.5 victory over the Tacloban Vikings for a 25-3 win-loss slate.

The Kingsmen cruised to a 6.5-1.5 win over the Vikings in the blitz event courtesy of full points each by David Elorta, Mari Joseph Turquiza, Bernadette Galas, Rogelio Antonio Jr., Genesis Borromeo, and Jerich Cajeras, and half point by Rolzon Roullo.

The Kingsmen also prevailed over Tacloban in the rapid game, 11-1, with Elorta, Turquiza, Galas, Antonio, Borromeo, and Cajeras taking the full two points, as Roullo settled for a draw.

Up next for the streaking Kingsmen is the no. 8 seed Mindoro Tamaraws at the start of the playoffs round on Wednesday, April 19./ASC, WDJ