SO ZEROES IN ON TITLE
Wesley So played with his usual swashbuckling style before settling for a fighting draw with NM Oliver Barbosa to move closer to the overall title in the 2008 "Battle of GMs" chess championship at the 11th floor, Bayside Hall, City State Hotel in Mabini St. cor. Padre Faura, Manila.
With the title and the P200,000 grand prize well within his reach, So halved the point with Barbosa after 52 moves of the Queen's Indian to stay a full point ahead of Asia's first GM Eugene Torre, with only one round remaining in this tournament organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) and sponsored by PAGCOR and City State Hotel.
Overall, So has eight points on six wins and four draws.
The 14-year-old high school student at St. Francis College (Bacoor), who made the headlines by winning the 10th Dubai Open chess championship last month, needs only to draw his 11th and final round assignment against three-time national junior champion John Paul Gomez to formalize his claim for the title.
"Basta laban lang po. (Just keep on fighting). Kung may winning line, I'll go for it. Kung wala, "I'll be happy with a draw," So referring to his final round match with Gomez.
But not to be outdone was Torre.
Torre, at 56 and the country's winningest chess player for almost four decades now, whipped GM candidate Julio Catalino Sadorra in 44 moves of the King's Indian to grab solo second place with seven points on four wins and six draws.
Like So, Torre is the only other undefeated player in the tournament.
Gomez outplayed NM Hamd Nouri in 68 moves of the Philidor while IM Richard Bitoon outduelled NM Rolando Nolte in 50 moves of the Sicilian to share 3rd spot with 6.5 points.
Half-a-point behind in 5th with 6 points was GM Rogelio Antonio, Jr., who was ambushed by GM Jayson Gonzales in a marathon 78 moves of the French defense.
Antonio has 4 wins, 4 draws and 2 losses. Barbosa and Nolte share 6th with 4.5 points.
In the women's division, Catherine Perena split the point with Shercila Cua to keep her slim half-point lead. Perena has 7.5 points on 5 wins and 5 draws against Cua's 7 points on 4 wins and 6 draws.
Cheradee Camacho bested Cristy Lamiel Bernales in 52 moves of the Sicilian to join Sherily Cua in 3rd with 6.5 points. It was Camacho's 4th win in as many rounds in a belated effort to crash into the magic circle.
Sherily, the younger of two chess-playing Cua sisters from V. Luna Chess Club, drew with Kimberly Jane Cunanan in 43 moves of the Slav.
In other 10th round results, Asian Games campaigner Jedara Docena upset Yiem Jose in 37 moves of the Sicilian, Aices Salvador trounced Enersoe Magno in 35 moves of the Slav and Beverly Mendoza drew with Jenny Palomo in 34 moves of the Nimzo-Indian.
Sources: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
December 29, 2002 -- January 17, 2017
Manila Bulletin
Page S-3
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Music and Me by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
March 15, 2012 -- April 18, 2013
http://palau-chess.blogspot.com
April 25, 2013 -- January 17, 2017
The History of Chess in Palau
By Roberto Hernandez
June 09, 2002 -- January 17, 2017
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