Iloilo Kisela Knights and Negros Kingsmen are unassailable in the ongoing Professional Chess Association of the Philippines after scoring two victories separately.
The Iloilo-based squad defeated Cebu City, 16.5 and Zamboanga, 12.5 – 8.5 for a 23-4 win loss record.
Against Cebu City, Iloilo ruled the blitz event, 5-2, courtesy of Giovanni Mejia, Cherry Ann Mejia, Cesar Mariano, John Michael Silvederio, and Lloyd Lanciola.
In the rapid event, IKK also defeated the Machers, 11-3, following wins by Grand Master Joey Antonio Jr., Karl Viktor Ochoa, Cherry Ann Mejia, Fritz Bryan Porras, and Lanciola and a draw by Mark Jossel Mariano.
After settling for a 3.5 draw in blitz event against Sultans, the Kisela Knights bounced back in rapid event by Antonio, Cherry Ann Mejia, Silvederio, and Porras and a draw by Ochoa.
For team owner Leo Sotaridona, he said it’s a six winning streaks for Iloilo and it’s doing very well on its way to quarterfinals. They will face top-seed Negros Kingsmen on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Negros Kingsmen is now the top team in the conference. They blasted Palawan 17-4 and 11.5-9.5 for a 24-3 win loss card.
The Kingsmen pulled off an 11.5-9.5 escape over Toledo City Trojans in the match. They failed to secure the feat in the blitz game, 1.5-5.5, with FIDE Master (FM) Nelson Mariano taking the lone win and Adrian dela Cruz settling for a draw.
But they took revenge in rapid event, 10-4, with victories from Mariano, Raye Posadas, FM Rosendo Bandal, and International Master (IM) Joel Pimentel and draws from FM Randy Segarra and FM Rolzon Roullo.
The Kingsmen scored a 17-4 win over Palawan Queen’s Gambit with a 6-1 win in blitz events from Mariano, Segarra, Bandal, Pimentel, Roullo, and Junaico Segismar. They also ruled the rapid event, 11-3, with victories from Mariano, Bandal, Pimentel, Roullo, and Segismar and a draw from Segarra.
“Big character win for us. The team have shown so much maturity to overcome adversity and tremendous pressure,” said Kingsmen co-team owner Martin Olendo.IMT
