It was a neck-and-neck clash for Iloilo Kisela Knights as they scored one win and one loss in the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) – Southern conference.
Delivering the killer moves on the board, the Iloilo-based team was shocked by Mindoro Elgin Tamaraws as the latter upset them with an 11-10 victory.
Mindoro chessers rose to the occasion, giving a message to all powerhouse teams that they can outsmart them.
In the Blitz competition, four draws excite the viewers. Iloilo recorded two wins, courtesy of FM Cherry Ann Mejia and Emmanuel Asi to the lone full point by Mindoro’s, Ronald Berdera. It was an advantage as it kept Mindoro within striking distance heading into rapid play.
David Elorta tied the game against Kisela Knight’s GM Joey Antonio, 1-1. Elgin Tamaraws got a huge lift from a two-point win by Sherwin Tiu over Karl Ochoa on Board 2. Michella Concio drew with erstwhile blitz opponent Mejia after which the middle of Mindoro’s order, Domingo Ramos and Berdera scored respective two-point wins over their counterparts to give them a comfortable lead.
Iloilo’s Fritz Porras and Dennis Bernas secured their boards, but it wasn’t enough to score for a draw or take a win.
“The last two games are really an eye opener that in the game of chess, every team is vulnerable for defeat. To win, one has to be as focused to goal to win regardless of the perceived strength of the opposing team. A little inattention, lowering of guard if you will, could leave one off guard that might cost a game or even the team,” stressed Leo Sotaridona, Iloilo Kisela’s team owner.
Prior to their loss, Kisela Knights blasted the Iriga Oragons, 16-5, in Round 10, to bring them down to third place in the South at 9-2. Elgin Tamaraws ranks in fourth spot with a 7-4 record right behind Negros (10-1), Camarines (10-1) and Iloilo (9-2).
“We lost sa Mindoro. We were upset, kusog man ila top players pero sa lower boards, medyo kami tani may advantage but unluckily, napirde kami which is part man sang game, may chance tani kami madaog sa seniors namun nga board, but because of mouse slip, napirde pa. We’ll bounce back nalang sa next games, especially nga ang makontra na namun ang Caloocan this Saturday. Currently, sila nalang ang undefeated subong,” shared Iloilo’s John Michael Silvederio.
Sotaridona also added that they need to study each of the player closely and come up with a strategy to secure the magic number 11 – the number of team points to win the match.
“For now, we feel like we found a route to get that number. One has to combine both practical and psychological component to figure out the winning route. I guess we’ll see this Saturday if our perceived strategies agree with realities. In any case, the elimination round is more of a testing and adjusting stage prior to the more crucial games starting at the quarterfinals,” he added.
Meanwhile, Negros’ unblemished record was stained after they bowed to Camarines,12-9 in Round 10 win.
Technical difficulties marred the night which forced a late change in the commentating panel. The Kingsmen were actually on pace of keeping their record immaculate after taking a 4-3 lead in the blitz matches.
But it was a different story in the rapid games with Soaring Eagles taking over the match. GM Mark Paragua, Women’s National Master Ezraline Alvarez, and homegrown players Ellan Asuela and Ronald Llavanes scored the decisive wins. International Joel Pimentel forced a draw against NM Christian Daluz to seal Camarines’ victory.
Over at the North, Caloocan remains the only unbeaten club left in the season after beating Isabela in Round 10, 14-7, and Manila in Round 11, 12-9, to go up to 11-0.IMT
