Miciano, Concio, Quizon, Roque off to good start in online Zone 3.3 Zonal Chess Championships 2021
By Marlon Bernardino
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 02 May 2021
MANILA, Philippines---International Masters (IMs) John Marvin Miciano of Davao City, Michael Concio Jr. and Daniel Quizon of Dasmariñas City, Cavite and National Master Merben Roque of Cebu were off to a blazing start by posting victories in the opening round of the Zone 3.3 Zonal Chess Championships 2021 online tournament Saturday night at Tornelo platform.
Miciano defeated Arena International Master Chee Sian Sebastien Chua of Malaysia after 52 moves of King's Indian defense, Concio toppled Choong Wai Edwin Lam of Malaysia after 36 moves of Double Fianchetto Opening, Quizon nipped Jerish John Velarde of Cebu after 56 moves of King's Pawn Opening, while Roque trounced Ern Jie Anderson Ang of Malaysia after 63 moves of King's Indian defense.
“The first round is one of the toughest rounds in any tournament. It usually sets the tone of how you’re going to perform," said National Chess Federation of the Philippines Chairman/President Senior Deputy Speaker Prospero "Butch" Arreza Pichay Jr. who watched the game live streaming through chess24.com.
Fide Master Austin Jacob Literatus of Davao City, National Master Michael Gotel of Bulacan and Kimuel Aaron Lorenzo of Laguna also opened with wins.
Literatus scalped Gabriel John Umayan of Davao City after 28 moves of Trompovsky Opening, Gotel outplayed Jave Mareck Peteros of Cebu after 42 moves of Catalan Opening, while Lorenzo waylaid Richard Natividad of Cebu after 59 moves of King's Indian defense.
Lone Filipino Grandmaster Darwin Laylo split the point with Rohan Shan Tze Navaratnam of Malaysia after 41 moves of English Opening.
Meanwhile, 27th seed Candidate Master Prin Laohawirapap of Thailand (ELO 2125) pulled the biggest upset in the first round by beating top seed Grandmaster Susanto Megaranto of Indonesia (ELO 2550) after 55 moves of Benoni defense.
2nd seed Grandmaster Novendra Priasmoro of Indonesia (ELO 2502) beat 28th seed Arena Grandmaster Henry Roger Lopez of Davao City (ELO 2107) after 43 moves of King's Indian defense, while 3rd seed International Master Tin Jingyao of Singapore (ELO 2482) bested 29th seed Xin Hao Looi of Malaysia (ELO 2101) after 47 moves of Nimzo Indian defense.
According to International Arbiter Casto "Toti" Abundo of the World Chess Federation, the top two players will advance to the World Cup set in August in Minsk, Russia.
The online event gave each player 90 minutes to finish 40 moves followed by 30 minutes for the rest of the game with 30-second increment per move.
However, games will be played in assigned playing venues to be manned by a chief arbiter.
Fifty-two players from six nations are taking part in the event that has a prize fund of $1,500 (about P75,000).-Marlon Bernardino-
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