By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
The Iloilo Kisela Knights clinched their fourth-straight win in the ongoing 2021 Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) San Miguel Corporation-Ayala Land Premier Association Cup playoffs.
After hard-fought wins against the Sunrays and the Negros Kingsmen, the Kisela Knights this time continued their winning ways against the Lapu-Lapu City Naki Warriors, 11.5-9.5, and the Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates, 13.5-7.5.
Iloilo kicked off its PCAP playoff day 13 with a neck-and-neck battle against Lapu-Lapu that caught the attention of chess fans in the first set of matches.
A tightly-contested rapid category ended in a deadlock with both teams scoring seven. However, the tie broke when the Kisela Knights were able to take over the five playing boards out of the seven in the blitz category.
The Kisela Knights finally broke loose against the Fianchetto Checkmates after finding their groove on offense behind stellar performances from GM Rogelio Antonio Jr., Karl Viktor Ochoa, WFM Cherry Ann Mejia, and NM John Michael Silvederio.
It was all Iloilo in all the 14 playing boards as they just dominated in both the rapid and the blitz categories to help them clinch a total of 200 points and second-place honors in the Southern division behind the Paralympic team.
In the Northern division, Caloocan is still leading with 228 points followed by San Juan with 226.5 points.
