Iloilo Kisela Knights hand powerhouse Camarines first loss in PCAP tourney

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

 

The Iloilo Kisela Knights looked like a different beast after that heartbreaking loss to Negros, showing renewed motivation entering the fifth day of the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines tournament.

Opening their quest for a bounce back, the Kisela nights were tested big time against the undefeated and star-studded Camarines team in their first match.

Headed by the popular GM Mark Paragua, the Camarines Soaring Eagles looked like the early favorites to win the match but GM Joey Antonio Jr. and the rest of the Kisela Knights had different plans.

It was a nip-and-tuck Blitz category match as the intensity ramped up, ending the score in a tie, 3.5-3.5.

The Rapid category was the decider and everyone was all eyes on the tightly-contested battle between Iloilo and Camarines.

However, the Kisela Knights went clutch and were able to edge the Soaring Eagles by just a match point difference, winning the Rapid with a score of 8-6 and the overall series, 11.5-9.5.

The next opponents were from Cordova who just did not have any chance against an Iloilo squad oozing with confidence.

An overwhelming score of 17-4 was handed by the Kisela Knights against the chess players from Cordova to end their impressive PCAP day 5 with a bang.