By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
The Iloilo Kisela Knights got the better of Isabela and Cavite during an inter-division clash in the ongoing 2022 Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) third conference tournament.
Heading into their PCAP game day carrying a four-game winning streak, the Kisela Knights had a successful mission of extending it to six after outdueling Isabela, 14-7, and dominating Cavite, 17-4.
Iloilo got into an unusual start against Isabela after the Northern Division team edged them in the first seven playing boards, 3-4.
For the first time in their last six matches, the Kisela Knights failed to clinch the win in the blitz category but quickly redeemed themselves after a masterful showing in the last seven playing boards.
NM Cesar Mariano and Karl Viktor Ochoa boosted Iloilo’s comeback in the rapid category after back-to-back wins in the first two boards.
Despite Isabela’s response in the next playing board, the Kisela Knights closed the show with an empathic four-board winning streak to fend off Isabela.
Meanwhile, against Cavite, the Kisela Knights showed total domination in both the rapid and blitz categories.
Iloilo went off to a rousing start and quickly built a 6-1 lead courtesy of huge board wins from GM Rogelio Antonio Jr., NM Rolly Parondo Jr., and WFM Cherry Ann Mejia.
The Kisela Knights carried its momentum to the last seven playing boards and held Cavite to just three points to end the rapid category with an impressive 11-3 lead.
With another sweeping twin win, the Kisela Knights improved their record to 16 wins and two losses while accumulating 272 total points.
