Pacquiao Asian Chess: Sadorra still unscathed
By Marlon Bernardino
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 21 May 2013
Individual Standings after Round 3:
(Open division)
3.0 points---GM Julio Catalino Sadorra (PHI), GM Mohammed Al-Sayed (QAT)
2.5 points---GM Li Chao (CHN),IM Wan Yunguo (CHN),GM Darwin Laylo (PHI),GM Le Quang Liem (VIET), GM John Paul Gomez (PHI), GM Mark Paragua (PHI),GM Richard Bitoon (PHI), GM Baskaran Adhiban (IND)
(Women's Division)
2.5 points---WGM Huang Qian (CHN), WIM Zhai Mo (CHN),WGM Guo Qi (CHN),WGM Mary Ann Gomes (IND), IM Batkhuyag Munguntuul (MGL),IM Pham Le Thao Nguyen (VIET)
Manila---US based Filipino Grandmaster (GM) Julio Catalino Sadorra streaked to his third straight victory on Monday, claiming the scalp of Chinese International Master (IM) Wang Chen (ELO 2498) and forging a fourth-round showdown with Qatari GM Mohammed Al-Sayed (ELO 2502) in the $100,000 Manny Pacquiao Cup Asian Continental Chess Championship at Midas Hotel and Casino in Pasay City here.
Sadorra, a senior business administration student at University of Texas-Dallas and seeded ninth in the 76-player field with an ELO of 2561, prevailed after 30 moves of French defense, King's Indian attack variation using the black pieces.
The 26th seed Al-Sayed, on the other hand toppled 5th seed Vietnamese GM Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son (ELO 2632) after 45 moves of Slav defense in this prestigious tournament organized by the GM Eugene Torre Chess Foundation and sponsored by world boxing champion Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao, Cafe Puro, Alaxan, Oriental and Motolite Corp. which offers a total of $100,000 cash prize await winners and five slots for this year's World Cup in Tromso, Norway.
"Go for win po tayo kay GM Al-Sayed," said the 26-year-old Sadorra, who hails from Bacoor, Cavite.
The Nine Round Swiss-System Turnament is held under the auspices of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines headed by it's Chairman/President Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr., Secretary-General newly-elected Cavite 7th district Rep. Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino Jr., Asian Chess Federation and FIDE (World Chess Federation).
Meanwhile, top seed GM Le Quang Liem of Vietnam, 2nd seed GM Li Chao and 21st seed IM Wan Yunguo of China, 11th seed GM Baskaran Adhiban of India, 12th seed GM Mark Paragua, 20th seed GM John Paul Gomez, 24th seed GM Darwin Laylo and 37th seed GM Richard Bitoon were tied at 3rd to 10th places with 2.5 points each.
Le, the highest-rated player here with an ELO of 2714, split the point with Gomez after 46 moves of Gruenfeld defense while Li, the second highest-rated player here with an ELO of 2686 stopped the winning run of giant killer and untitled Emmanuel Emperado after 31 moves of Catalan Opening.
In other matches saw, Yunguo beat Fide Master Mari Joseph Turqueza, Adhiban routed 29th seed GM Niaz Murshed of Bangladesh, Paragua trounced 31st seed IM Goh Weiming of Singapore, Laylo subdued 54th seed countryman IM Chito Garma and Bitoon outclassed 19th seed GM Subramanian Arun Prasad of India.
In the women's division, IM Batkhuyag Munguntuul of Mongolia waylaid WGM Nafisa Muminova of Uzbekistan and WIM Zhai Mo of China edged WNM Jan Jodilyn Fronda to create a six-way tie for first place along with WGMs Huang Qian and Guo Qi of China, WGM Mary Ann Gomes of India and IM Pham Le Thao Nguyen of Vietnam who tallied 2.5 points each.
Woman Fide Master Marie Antoinette San Diego, meantime turned back Lei Tingjie of China to raise her total 2.0 points and share 7th to 19th place.The women are disputing the lone slot in the 2014 Women?s World Championship.-Marlon Bernardino-
Photo: Manny Iligan of Fianchetto Realty Development Corp., Asia's First Grandmaster Eugene Torre and NCFP Chairman/President Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr. gave a souvenir chess board to World Boxing Champion Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao. (Gener B. Lumanog).
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Marlon Bernardino.
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