Tagaytay Zonal Chess: Wesley So beats Eugene Torre
By Marlon Bernardino
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 23 Jan 2013
Tagaytay City -- THE COUNTRY's top rated Grandmaster Wesley So scored back-to-back win after beating GM Eugene Torre in the second round of the Asian Zone 3.3 Chess Championship late Wednesday here at the Tagaytay International Convention Center.
The 19-year-old 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 prevailed with the black pieces after 38 moves of Torre Attack.
"Talagang pinilit kong manalo. Hirap ng posisyon buti napilit," said So.
The Nine Round Swiss-System Tournament organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) headed by its chairman/president Prospero 'Butch' Pichay Jr. and Secretary-General Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham ?Bambol? Tolentino Jr.
The Bacoor, Cavite whiz kid So improved to a total of 2 points to share 1st to 5th places in the 42 players field along with second seed GM Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son of Vietnam, defending champion GM Susanto Megaranto of Indonesia, GM Mark Paragua and GM Darwin Laylo of the Philippines.
So beat GM Eugene Torre after 38 moves of Torre Attack, Ngoc Truong Son downed GM Banjo Barcenilla after 28 moves of King's Indian defense, Megaranto routed FM Haridas Pascua after 26 moves of Queens Indian defense, Paragua bested Ben Polao after 39 moves of Sicilian defense and Laylo dealt NM Nelson Villanueva after 33 moves of Sicilian defense.
Earlier, So toppled NM Rustum Tolentino in the opening round.
In other matches saw, IM Barlo Nadera split the point with GM Joey Antonio Jr. after 40 moves of another Torre skirmish and IM Bayarsaikhan of Mongolia halved the point with compatriot FM Gombosuren Munkhgal after 41 moves of Queens Indian.
Chief Arbiter is Fide delegate Casto Abundo and Program Director is NCFP Executive Director GM Jayson Gonzales.
Photo: GM Wesley So ponder his next moves against GM Eugene Torre. Photo by Rey Nillama.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Marlon Bernardino.
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