With one week to go before the much-anticipated first conference of the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines, Iloilo Kisela Knights is ready to outsmart other competing teams in the country.

The Iloilo professional chess club will start their PCAP campaign on Jan. 16, 2021 wherein they will clash against the first all-female chessers from Queens Gambit of Palawan.

Kisela Knights, a franchise team of PCAP, will represent the city and province of Iloilo as well as the province of Guimaras. Owner Leo Sotaridona visions to create the next generation of Grand Masters (GMs) in the next 10-15 years. The team is managed by woodpushers Gil Libutaque as overall team manager and Hubert Canto as assistant manager.

It was a good turnout for Kisela Knights as they acquired four veteran woodpushers during the first draft – Grand master Joey Antonio, Woman fide master Cherry Ann Mejia, Ilonggo and National master Cesar Mariano, and Karl Victor Ochoa.

“Our venue will be in ISAT-U Internet Cafe since it has stable internet connection and higher bandwidth plus power interruption proof; the PC should have two cams – one facing the player, another showing the pc screen – to ensure player is not cheating (very important to maintain the integrity of results); Iloilo Science and Technology – University is partnering with us on this through the Office of the Vice President of External Affairs (VPEA). So we are thankful for the support of President Dr. Raul Muyong and VPEA Dr. Nemia Mabaquiao and Director of Natioanl and International Affairs, Junnifer Badoles,” Sotaridona said.

Other woodpushers who will banner the Ilonggo squad are NM John Michael Silvederio, Fritz Bryan Porras, Dennis Bernas, NM Giovanni Mejia, Mark Jossel Mariano, Fiona Geeweneth Guirhem, and Gil Libutaque.

For Libutaque, he said they don’t know how good their preparation compared to other teams. This professional chess league being the first in the world is in its infancy. Preparation is a sort “hit and miss method.”Generally, Sir Leo, is the Brain, in charge of logistics and also ways and means. Specifically, Hubert and I do the miscellaneous work like coaching and scouting. Hubert identifies the line up of the opposing team scheduled for the day . We can now see the pairing of each opposing player. Our players are then informed who they opponents in their respective division,” he added.

To prepare each player, the team use some software programs to improve their equipment. The delivery of this software program was fastracked by the Brain, because, he believes it can contribute a lot. The respective players then guess what will be the preparation of their prospective opponents. The data needed is available the latest software. The players are also coached on the rules and are given the latest online guidelines. The effort to study is all up to the players. Many of the squad’s players are encouraged to practice an average of three tournaments a day online to sharpen their minds and improve their speed. The encounter is all up to the player.

Sotaridona also shared that they are looking for a long term approach, seeking more resources to be able to provide the players good quality computers with better memory and large storage space for chess engine analysis.

“We are continuing to think of ways Kisela can be a positive force for the community – we want not do good chess moves over the board, but also good moves outside the chess world – by using chess as instrument to make a positive difference in the community – along this line, our gift giving plan is something we have to keep in mind; we are thinking about providing scholarship at the chess academy for deserving young talents; more thinking as and planning as we go,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Palawan Queen’s Gambit is fielding an all-female team and hopes to defy overwhelming odds against a male-dominated PCAP lineup.

They will be reinforced by Olympiad veterans Catherine Perena-Secopito, Cecilia Cuizon, Marie Antoinette San Diego and Shania Mae Mendoza.

They also drafted Mikee Charlene Suede and Carmelites Abanes and added local talents Jesibel Maberit, Marife dela Torre and Yanika Eli Seratubias to complete the cast.

For Silvederio, upon checking their opponents, he said Kisela has an edge a compare to Palawan. “Sa pagkakilala ko sa mga kontra, medyo may edge kami sa line up, pero siyempre, di gyapon pa-kompiyansa kay mga experienced players naman ang mga kontra daan. Sa training, ari lang kami sa house, nabukad tanan nga chess materials, basa chess books kag gamit sang chess software nga gin hatag samun sang team owner namun para sige ang learning,” he added.IMT