Iloilo Kisela Knights split PCAP match day, near playoff berth

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

The Iloilo Kisela Knights ended another match schedule with a 1-1 split in the ongoing 2022 Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) third conference tournament last November 16, 2022.

Fresh off back-to-back wins against Cagayan and Manila last November 14, the Kisela Knights repeated another 1-1 split with a win against Camarines-Iriga, 14-7, and a loss at the hands of Surigao, 8-13.

The Kisela Knights were bound for another stellar performance after sweeping Camarines-Iriga in the first seven playing boards, 7-0.

After NM Rolly Parondo Jr. and Karl Viktor Ochoa’s back-to-back wins in the first two playing boards of the rapid category, Iloilo suddenly became hot and never dropped a single board until the blitz.

Camarines-Iriga started to show some signs of life when the blitz category began and was more consistent with their offensive attack.

After Iloilo’s three-straight board wins, Camarines-Iriga made things more interesting after answering back with two wins and two draws in the last four playing boards.

Despite Camarines-Iriga’s fightback in the blitz category, the Kisela Knights still prevailed after a momentum-clinching 7-0 run during the rapid category.

Meanwhile, against Surigao, the Kisela Knights failed to sustain their offensive consistency after a tight second half against Camarines-Iriga.

The Kisela Knights led 4-3 after the first seven playing boards but got outplayed in the blitz category, 4-10.

After Iloilo’s hot start in the second and third boards led by WFM Cherry Ann Mejia and Ochoa, the Kisela Knights failed to win a single board in the last four matches.

Surigao then capitalized on the Kisela Knights’ offensive drought and won the last four playing boards led by Cyril Ortega and Antonio Chavez Jr.

With the 1-1 outing, the Kisela Knights are still the Southern division’s no. 2 team with 395 points behind Davao with 432 points.

Iloilo will still have five remaining matches from November 19-26, 2022 and will be going up against PCL Pagadian, Cebu, CMOCA, Palawan, and Tacloban.