Wesley So off to good start in Tagaytay Zonal Chess
By Marlon Bernardino
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 23 Jan 2013
TAGAYTAY CITY, Philippines -- The Philippines? top chess player, Super Grandmaster (GM) Wesley So, had a good start in the Asian Zone 3.3 Chess Championship here at the Tagaytay International Convention Center.
The 19-year-old Bacoor, Cavite native So, the country?s highest-ranked player and the tournament?s top seed with an Elo rating of 2682, took a break from his studies at Webster University in the United States to compete in the event hosted by Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham ?Bambol? Tolentino Jr. and the city council, subdued Rustum Tolentino of Cagayan de Oro City (ELO 2364) after 28 moves of Queens Pawn Game using the advantageous white pieces to lead the opening winners late Tuesday.
"Maganda y'ung coordination ng major pieces ko sa Queen, Rook and Knight sa middle game namin ni Rustum kaya napilit kong manalo sa laro despite equal ang piyesa naman at saka mga pawn," said So.
So, the top seed in the 38-player Open division and ranked 66th in the world, was pitted against compatriot GM Eugene Torre of Quezon City (ELO 2485) in the second round held late in the afternoon (Wednesday).
"Mabigat ang second round natin. I think huling beses kami nagkalaban ni GM (Eugene) Torre ay nauwi sa draw," added So, who is setting his main goal to return to the World Cup slated on Aug. 10 to Sept. 5 in Tromso, Norway.
Torre, the Asia's First Grandmaster, meantime won over default against National Master Michael Gotel of Quezon City (ELO 2161). "Gagawin na lamang natin ang makakaya natin against kay Super GM (Wesley) So. Ang mahalaga sana Pinoy pa din ang makakakuha ng dalawang slot sa World Cup."
Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham 'Bambol' Tolentino Jr., also the secretary general of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines headed by Chairman/President Prospero 'Butch' Pichay Jr., commented " Magandang laban ang aasahan natin kina GMs So at Torre at inaasahan natin magiging madugo ang kanilang labanan".
National Chess Federation of the Philippines headed by Chairman/President Prospero 'Butch' Pichay Jr., added "Bukod sa laban nina GMs So at Torre ay aasahan din natin na magiging kapana-panabik na laban sa pagitan nina Vietnamese Super GM (Nguyen) Ngoc Truong Son vs US based GM Banjo (Barcenilla) at FM (Haridas) Pascua vs defending champion Indon GM (Susanto) Megaranto."
US based GM Rogelio 'Banjo' Barcenilla Jr. (ELO 2483) defeated NM Rolando Andador of Talisay, Negros Occidental (ELO 2326) after 53 moves of Slav defense to meet second seed Super GM Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son (ELO 2631) in the next round, winnr over FM Rudin Hamdani of Indonesia (ELO 2357) after 49 moves of French defense.
Fide Master Haridas Pascua of Mangatarem, Pangasinan (ELO 2386), on the other hand, toppled countryman Sarangani Usman (unrated) after 36 movs of Pirc defense to face defending champion GM Susanto Megaranto of Indonesia (ELO 2529) who brought downed FM Tran Tuan Minh of Vietnam (ELO 2306) after 37 moves of Queens Indian defense.
Other Filipino Grandmasters won their opening assignments are 12-time national open champion Rogelio 'Joey' Antonio Jr. of Calapan, Oriental Mindoro (ELO 2541), PSC International chess champion Mark Paragua (ELO 2519) of Bulacan and Darwin Laylo (ELO 2491) of Marikina Cty.
Antonio defeated IM-elect Edgar Reggie Olay of Kidapawan City (ELO 2353) after 41 moves of Sicilian-Alapin, Paragua crushed Manny Yu of GMA, Cavite (ELO 2274) after 44 moves of Sicilian defense and Laylo dealt FM Sumiya Bilguuun of Mongolia (ELO 2213) after 35 moves of Slav defense.
However, GM Richard Bitoon of Cebu (ELO 2411) was yielded to journeyman Ben Polao of Mindanao (ELO 2091) after 47 moves of another Sicilian skirmish while GM John Paul Gomez of Binan, Laguna (ELO 2520) was held into a draw with youthful Yeoh Li Tian of Malaysia (ELO 2278) after 51 moves of Slav duel.
The game between IM Farid Firman Syah of Indonesia (ELO 2338) vs GM Dao Thien Hai of Vietnam (ELO 2531), IM Nguyen Van Huy of Vietnam (ELO 2504) vs FM Mari Joseph Turqueza of Quezon City (ELO 2256), Nelson 'Elo' Mariano III of Bacoor (ELO 2251) vs IM Nguyen Doc Hoa of Vietnam (ELO 2495), FM Paulo Bersamina of Pasay City (ELO 2206) vs GM Cao Sang of Vietnam (ELO 2488), Dr. Alfredo Paez of Cabuyao, Laguna (ELO 2151) vs IM Rolando Nolte of Quezon City (ELO 2460) ends in draw.
In the distaff side, Philippine's representative WIM Catherine Perena, WFMs Rulp Ylem Jose and Mary Antoinette San Diego, Bernadette Galas and Mary Grace Tambasen lost their first round matches. Fide delegate Casto Abundo is the chief arbiter while NCFP Executive Director is the Project Director.-Marlon Bernardino-
Photo: CEREMONIAL MOVES: GM Dao Thien Hai of Vietnam (left) and Super GM Wesley So of the Philippines made the ceremonial moves in the Asian Zone 3.3 Chess Championship here at the Tagaytay International Convention Center on Tuesday. Joining them are Fide Arbiter Peter Long, NCFP Executive Director GM Jayson Gonzales, NCFP Director Judge Boyet Mapili, Tagaytay City Mayor and NCFP Secretary-General Abraham ?Bambol? Tolentino Jr., NCFP Treasurer Red Dumuk, Asia's First GM Eugene Torre and Fide delegate Casto Abundo.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Marlon Bernardino.
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