Negros Kingsmen continue hot streak in PCAP tourney
Negros Kingsmen continued its hot streak in the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) GM Wesley So Cup by winning its two games on Wednesday night.
The Kingsmen opened the evening with a lopsided 16-5 victory over Cavite Spartans before escaping with an 11-10 win over Cagayan Kings to improve their standings to 11-7.
Facing Cavite, Negros dominated the blitz game with victories by Nelson Mariano III (Board 1), Steven Breckenridge (Board 2), Kajoy Acedo (Board 3), Joel Pimentel (Board 5), Rolzon Roullo (Board 6), and Adrian dela Cruz (Board 7).
The Kingsmen also defeated the Spartans in rapid event via triumphs by Mariano (Board 1), Breckenridge (Board 2), Acedo (Board 3), Pimentel (Board 5), and Dela Cruz (Board 7).
Negros struggled in rapid game against Cagayan but was able to recover in blitz game on victories by Breckenridge (Board 1), Acedo (Board 3), Reynaldo Flores (Board 4), Pimentel (Board 5), and Roullo (Board 6).
“We have contrasting victories. After routing Cavite in the opening game, we had a nail-biter against Cagayan, thanks to the heroics of Pimentel. Can’t ask for more on these twin results,” said Kingsmen co-team owner Martin Olendo.
Iloilo Kisela Knights, on the other hand, suffered a 13-8 defeat to San Juan Predators before bouncing back with a 13.5-7.5 victory over Rizal Batch Towers for an 8-8 win-loss record.
After being forced to a 3.5-3.5 draw in the blitz game, the Kisela Knights bounced back against the
Batch Towers in the rapid chess category where they cruised to a 10-4 domination.
Iloilo’s rapid event victories can be credited to Cherry Ann Mejia (Board 3), Cesar Mariano (Board 4), John Michael Silvederio (Board 5), and Dennis Bernas and draws by Rogelio Antonio Jr. (Board 2) and Fritz Bryan Porras (Board 6).
“San Juan truly lives up to being the number one team in this tournament prior to this game. It was another tough and exciting game for us,” Kisela Knights’ team owner Leo Sotaridona said./ASC,