By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
The Iloilo Kisela Knights weathered the storm and capped off the 2nd match day of the 2023 Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) 1st conference with a sweeping 2-0 win last February 22, 2023.
Fresh off a dominant 19-2 victory over the Mindoro Timaraws in their opening match, the Kisela Knights extended its unbeaten start after surviving the Davao Chess Eagles, 11-10, and the Zamboanga Sultans, 13-8.
It was by far Iloilo’s closest match of the first conference of the year after going toe-to-toe with the Chess Eagles in all the 14 playing boards.
The Kisela Knights struck first and grabbed the momentum-clinching blitz category win after nipping Davao, 4-3.
Both top squads then figured in an intense nip-and-tuck affair in the rapid category as Davao kept on answering win after win whenever Iloilo got to hot start.
The Kisela Knights then banked on the clutch prowess of NM Fritz Bryan Porras, NM Rolly Parondo Jr., and Horizon Villanueva which gave the last four points to Iloilo.
After the tough challenge from the Chess Eagles, the Kisela Knights faced another heavy Zamboanga team that scared Iloilo after bagging the first seven playing boards, 4-3.
Needing someone to step up, the Kisela Knights relied on its veteran experience and closed the show with an impressive 10-point output in the rapid category.
Leading the charge for Iloilo were Mark Jossel Mariano and NM Cesar Mariano who were the only guys who swept both the blitz and the rapid categories.
Iloilo then provided the final blow after NM Porras, NM Parondo Jr., and Villanueva, the exact trio who torched Davao, replicated its three-board winning streak in the last three outings.
The Kisela Knights will look to remain undefeated in the PCAP tourney when they square off against Toledo and Negros on February 25, 2023.
