(819) TOP 3 SEEDS UNBEATEN (TBN-Oct. 03-09, 2003) Original Draft

                 
                          TOP 3 SEEDS UNBEATEN

THERE are only four remaining undefeated players after the 2nd round of the 2003 Senior and Junior Open Chess Tournament sponsored by Knights and Rooks Chess Club and held at C & N Refrigeration and Air Conditioning premises.

Top seed Cyril Montel, Jr. won a marathon 5-hour match with Ivan II Chess Computer. It takes 81 moves before he mated it with the black pieces. In August 10 this year, it took him only 26 moves to beat Ivan II with the white pieces.

Meanwhile, 2nd seed Menandro Manuel beat Eugene Koh, who only have one Sunday off in a month and 3rd seed Roberto Hernandez made short work on Amante Caballero and mated him in 38 moves of Pirc Defence.

The same defence was used by Nilo de Jesus, the host of the tournament venue, but also lost to Hernandez in 40 moves. 

Thus, Hernandez is now the solo leader with 3 points followed by Koh with 2.5 points in 5 games.

Koh was upset by Caballero and drew with Manuel Mahor, Jr.. He beat Bong Alipoon and newcomer Francis Cuenco, the older brother of junior contestant Kelvin. 

Danny Dandoy, the 4th undefeated player, dealt Jose Omega his first loss in 3 games. Dandoy now has 1.5 points. Omega won over Mike Miguel, Jr. in 33 moves of an Irregular Opening in a special game held at Dandoy's residence on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2003.

OTHER RESULTS OF SENIOR DIVISION 2ND ROUND:
     Jess Toldoya defeats Mario Ramos in 36 moves of French Defence; Cuenco defeated Norbert Villanueva and Koh defeated Cuenco.

IN THE JUNIOR DIVISION, kiddie champion Jayrome Soriano defeated 9-year-old Dmitri Kyle Villanueva (2-0) in best of three match; Chris Domingo blanked Kelvin Cuenco (3-0); John Page is a 2-0 winner over Jovani Adachi, the only junior player who is still win-less so far; Rodnnie Dizon and Ricky 'Jun Jun' Camacho drew their best-of-three games with one win, one loss and one draw each. Finally, Cuenco scored his first win in 3 games by beating Page.

3RD ROUND PAIRINGS: (First name to play white)
     Montel, Jr. vs. Manuel; De Jesus vs. Alipoon; Toldoya vs. Cuenco; Dandoy vs. Ivan II; Miguel, Jr. vs. Mahor, Jr.; N. Villanueva vs. Ramos; Mariano Agustin, Jr. vs. Rolando Funa; Jimmy Valenzuela vs. Agustin, Jr. and Agustin, Jr. vs. Miguel, Jr.

SATURDAY'S SPECIAL GAMES:
     Koh vs. Omega; Caballero vs. Genaro Manlaya; Manlaya vs. Koh

Solution to last week's puzzle: 1. Rxe7+ Nxe7 2. Qc6+!! Qxc6  3. Nd4 mate.

THIS WEEK'S PUZZLES: White to move and mates in 3
           Solution: 1. Bxh7 Kxh7 2. Rh3+ Kg8 3. Rh8 mate
           White to move and mates in 3
           Solution next issue



Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
               Tia Belau Newspaper
               Pages 9-10
               Volume 12
               October 03-09, 2003