Paragua, Gomez, Legaspi off to good start in PSC Chess
By Marlon Bernardino
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 14 Jan 2013
Grandmasters Mark Paragua, John Paul Gomez and Rhobel Legaspi got off to a blazing start by posting victories in the opening round of PSC Cup International Chess Championships on Monday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila.
Paragua beat Roel Abelgas after 23 moves of King's Indian defense, Gomez defeated NM Efren Bagamasbad after 21 moves of French defense while Legaspi nipped 7-year-old whiz kid Alekhine Nouri after 17 moves of King's Pawn game.
"Magulo y'ung laro namin ni Roel (Abelgas) pero buti na lamang sanay ako sa ganitong set up ng King's Indian," said Paragua, the 2003 Southeast Asian Games most bemedalled athlete.
Top seed GM Aleksandr Rakhmanov, (elo 2612) of Russia spearheaded foreign counterparts and setting his eyes for first chess title in 2013.
Despite the absence of GM Wesley So who is currently schooling in United States, some of the country's Pinoy woodpushers in the likes of GMs Oliver Barbosa, Joey Antonio, Darwin Laylo, Richard Bitoon and Eugene Torre is raring to go in the nine rounds swiss system which attracted a total of 10 GMs in the event hosted by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines headed by it's Chairman/President Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr., Secretary-General Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino Jr. and Executive Director Gm Jayson Gonzales.
Russian GM Aleksadr Rakmanov and PSC Chairman Ricardo Garcia made the ceremonial moves to usher the start of PSC Cup International Chess Championship. Joining them are NCFP Chairman / President Prospero A. Pichay Jr., NCFP Executive Director Jayson Gonzales, NCFP directors Raymond Lingsangan, Louie Ramos and Red Dumuk and Asia's First International Master Rodolfo Tan Cardoso.
"Inaasahan natin magiging madugo ang laban sa paglahok ng Russian Super Grandmaster na si Aleksadr Rakmanov na may ELO rating na 2612," said NCFP Chairman/President/ Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr., who is now elected as new POC auditor.
"Itong larong chess isa sa sinusuportahan ng PSC dahil malaki ang pag-asa natin sa larong ito. Sa katunayan kasama ang chess sa nagbibigay ng medalya sa bansa sa SEA Games at Asian Games," added PSC Chairman Ricardo Garcia
The tournament, which offers a guaranteed cash prize of US$30,000 with the champion getting the lion share of lion share US$6,000.
Russian GM Aleksadr Rakmanov and PSC Chairman Richie Garcia made the ceremonial moves to usher the start of PSC Cup International Chess Championship. Joining them are NCFP Chairman / President Prospero A. Pichay Jr. , NCFP Executive Director Jayson Gonzales, NCFP directors Raymond Lingsangan, Louie Ramos and Red Dumuk and Asia's First International Master Rodolfo Tan Cardoso on Monday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila. (Marlon Bernardino)
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