Checkmate: Iloilo Chess team vows to bring back board glory

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

 

A chess squad here in Iloilo City is currently gearing up to make waves and impress in the first-ever professional chess league in the Philippines.

The Iloilo Kisela Knights, owned by Leonardo Sotaridona, managed by Gil Libutaque and assisted by Hyubs Canto will be vowing to put the city at the top of the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) league.

First formed by Mr. Sotaridona through his trusted friends and co-chess enthusiasts, the group decided to level up and create a team to showcase what the Ilonggos possess in the sport of chess.

24 teams from the different provinces in the Philippines will be testing each other’s board tactics to reign supreme in the prestigious tournament.

Out of the 11 players representing the Kisela Knights, six are pure Ilonggos and one hails from Guimaras.

As of now, assistant manager Mr. Canto is thoroughly preparing for his coaching and training while Mr. Libutaque secures the much-needed strategies and the counters.

Four categories will be catered by the PCAP league: the Top-rated category, the Homegrowns, Lady, and the Senior.

Kisela’s challenge to all Ilonggos and chess enthusiasts echoes a similar challenge posed by late president JFK during his inaugural address “Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” Kisela has accepted the challenge. Through its own initiative, using its own resources, utilizing the supports and expertise of the managers on pro-bono basis, Kisela has cleared the ground, laid down a workable foundation and paved a clear path moving forward.

Kisela has done its part for the foundational work and will continue to do its best moving forward. But it is also up to the local governments, our mayors and governors of the cities and provinces of Iloilo and Guimaras to do their fair share of extending the needed support (financial, manpower, logistics) in order for Kisela to be sustainable and accomplish its mission.

Equally important are the support of local companies and businesses (big and small), public and private schools and universities, local chess clubs, ordinary people and chess enthusiasts – your collective contributions taken together towards the common mission not only guarantees success but in itself already a success. Bato Iloilo and Guimaras!” stated the Kisela Knights in an exclusive interview with the Daily Guardian.