Iloilo Kisela Knights outduel Surigao in 2023 PCAP quarterfinal thriller

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

The Iloilo Kisela Knights proved they still got enough gas left in the tank after surviving the Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates in the quarterfinal round of the ongoing 2023 Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) 1st conference last April 19, 2023.

After dropping their first game against the Fianchetto Checkmates, the Kisela Knights weathered the storm and cruised to two-straight wins, 2-1, to advance to the tournament semifinals.

It was a tightly contested showdown during the opening game between the two squads from the Southern division with the blitz category ending 4-3, in favor of Iloilo.

However, Surigao bounced back in the last seven playing boards and edged the Kisela Knights with four points, 9-5, to officially end the first set with a 12-9 win against Iloilo.

Needing a spark to lift the Kisela Knights and avoid an early PCAP elimination, Iloilo got hot in the first seven playing boards and closed the blitz category with a 5-2 comfortable lead.

Despite two quick wins from Surigao in the rapid category, Iloilo sealed the deal after receiving momentum-boosting wins from NM Cesar Mariano and NM Fritz Bryan Porras.

With the quarterfinal clash tied at 1-1, an Armageddon tiebreaker was conducted to break the deadlock.

It was an early scare for the Kisela Knights after the Fianchetto Checkmates grabbed the early 1-0 lead courtesy of a Lennon Salgados win but Iloilo countered with the biggest winning streak of the playoffs.

Down 0-1, Iloilo swept Surigao with two-straight wins, thanks to the experienced veteran duo of NM Porras and NM John Michael Silvederio.

The big-time quarterfinal win against Surigao then set Iloilo up against their long-time Southern division rival squad, Negros, in the semifinals.