Iloilo grabs PCAP supremacy after defeating San Juan in finals clash

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

The Iloilo Kisela Knights put up a spectacular show and outdueled the San Juan Predators via sweep during the grand finals of the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) season II “Wesley So Cup Conference”.

Entering the grand finals against the no. 1 team of the northern division with the best record in the league at 31-3, the Kisela Knights showed no fear and executed their game plan to perfection for a 13-8, 11.5-9.5 back-to-back winning stint in the last series of the prestigious event.

It was a shaky start for the Ilonggos as San Juan jumped into a comfortable 5-2 lead in the Blitz category after GM Victor Moskalenko and WIM Jan Jodelyn Fronda were off to a great start for the northern division champs.

However, in the Rapid category, the Kisela Knights suddenly caught fire and regained the momentum after putting on a show with an undefeated seven-board streak to open their lead 11-3.

It was a different story in the second matchup as the Kisela Knights were ahead in the Blitx category this time, 4.5-2.5.

Things began to heat up in the last seven boards as both squads traded wins in one of the most exciting and thrilling Rapid category showdowns.

Iloilo’s GM Hovhannes Gabuzya, WFM Cherry Ann Mejia, and Dennis Bernas provided solid performances for the Kisela Knights as they led the team to a deadlocked Rapid category at 7 points.

Due to Iloilo’s slight advantage in the first category, they then took home the PCAP second conference championship trophy and were hailed as kings of chess in the Philippines.