Playing on top of the board, Negros Island Region Kingsmen and Iloilo Kisela Knights scored blowout victories in the 2023 Professional Chess Association of the Philippines All-Filipino Conference over the weekend.
Topping the Southern Division, Kingsmen maintained its streak with a 9-0 card following two wins. They opened the match with a 13.5-7.5 victory over Team Arriba Iriga City-Team Camarines before escaping 17-4 against Tacloban Vikings.
NIR bounced back in the rapid game vs Team Arriba, 10-4, after a tied blitz scores. Mari Joseph Turquiza, Bernadette Galas, Rogelio Antonio Jr., Ellan Asuela and Jerich Cajeras scored two points each. They sustained its momentum after beating them in blitz event, 5-2, with full points each from David Elorta (Board 1), Antonio (Board 4), Asuela (Board 5), Ted Ian Montoyo (Board 6) and Rolzon Roullo (Board 7).
The Negrenses then pounded the Vikings in the rapid game, 12-2, with Elorta, Galas (Board 3), Antonio, Asuela, Montoyo and Roullo delivering the full two points each for their squad.
Meanwhile, the Leo Sotaridona-owned Kisela Knights stayed at second place with a 7-2 win-loss record.
They blasted the Vikings, 16-5 before hammering Cebu Niños, 17.5-6.5. In the first game, they walloped the Vikings in blitz event, 6-1, with full points each from Mark Mariano (Board 2), Fiona Geeneweth Guirhem (Board 3), Cesar Mariano (Board 4), Fritz Bryan Porras (Board 5), Rolly Parondo Jr. (Board 6) and Lloyd Lanciola (Board 7).
The Ilonggos also dominated the Vikings in the rapid game, 10-4, with Guirhem, Cesar Mariano, Parondo and Lanciola connecting two points each and Jovelyn Sepanton (Board 1) and Mark Mariano splitting their points.
Against the Niños, the team ruled the blitz, 5.5-1.5, with Horizon Villanueva (Board 1), Guirhem, Cesar Mariano, Porras and Parondo having full points each and Lanciola with half point.
Playing as an All-Ilonggo team, Kisela also ruled the rapid, 12-2, thanks to VPpillanueva, Mark Mariano, Guirhem, Cesar Mariano, Porras and Parondo who finished with two points each.IMT Sports
