By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
The Iloilo Kisela Knights collected another huge victory and extended its winning streak to three in the ongoing 2022 Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) third conference tournament last November 26.
After pulling off masterful performances against Cebu and the Cagayan de Oro Misamis Oriental (CMOCA), the Kisela Knights picked up where they left off and shut down PCL Pagadian, 13-8.
The Kisela Knights kicked off their match on a high note after immediately taking the lead after the first seven playing boards, 4-3.
However, Iloilo had to dig deep after Pagadian posted some early board scares when they grabbed back-to-back wins in the third and fourth playing board.
Pagadian then retook the lead after their two-straight board wins but the Kisela Knights countered with a momentum-clinching 3-0 sweep in the last three boards to enter the rapid category with confidence.
Three consecutive wins courtesy of NM Giovanni Mejia, Karl Viktor Ochoa, and Fiona Guirhem kicked off the Iloilo surge in the last category that paved the way for another Kisela Knights clinic.
Despite dropping a single playing board midway in the match, the Kisela Knights responded with a 3-0 run after big wins from NM Rolly Parondo Jr., NM John Michael Silvederio, and Horizon Villanueva.
The win helped Iloilo improve their win-loss record to 29-4 built from 476 points and are still Southern Division’s no. 2 squad behind Davao.
The date for the PCAP quarterfinals is yet to be announced but according to the Iloilo Kisela Knights coaching staff, they will be facing Camarines-Iriga on the opening playoff day.
