Unstoppable
Published : Tuesday, July 19, 2011 00:00
Written by : Ed Andaya

Standings after four rounds:

4 points — W. So
3 — D. Laylo
2.5 — R. Nolte, O. Barbosa, R. Bitoon
2 — J. Garcia, R. Antonio, E. Torre, J. Gomez
1.5 — R. Barcenilla, M. Paragua
1 — J. Sanchez, R. Salvador

Pairings for fifth round:
(White player first)

J. Sanchez vs. Y. Ranola; R. Antonio vs. D. Laylo; R. Salvador vs. R. Bitoon; R. Barcenilla vs. M. Paragua; R. Nolte vs. W. So; J. Garcia vs. E. Torre; J. Gomez vs. O. Barbosa.

TOP seed GM Wesley So is making chess look as easy as reciting the alphabet.

In fact, it was so easy that even well-known chess analysts NM Glen Bordonada could not help but compare his recent games to legendary chess champion Jose Raoul Capablanca of Cuba.

So, at 17 the brightest chess player to come out in this side of the chess universe, racked up two more wins against GM Roland Salvador in the third round and GM Rogelio Barcenilla, Jr. in the fourth round to assume the solo lead with a perfect score of four points in the 2011 ‘Battle of GMs’ chess championships at the National Press Club Bldg. in Intramuros, Manila.

The multi-titled campaigner from Bacoor, Cavite, who is seeking his fourth straight Battle of GMs title, defeated Salvador in 68 moves of the Queen’s Pawn opening and Barcenilla in 35 moves of the King’s Indian defense to take a one-point lead over GM Darwin Laylo in this prestigious 14-player, 13-round tournament.

So, whose last defeat in a local tournament came at the hands of GM Julio Catalino Sadorra in the eighth round of the 2008 PGMA Cup in Parañaque on Sept. 12, also won over GM Joseph Sanchez in the first round and GM Rogelio Antonio, Jr. in the second round.

“Wesley’s games in this tournament remind me of Capablanca’s seemingly effortless wins,” said Bordonada, referring to the former world chess champion ( 1921-27) from Cuba ,who was nicknamed “Human Chess Machine” during his playing days.

Laylo, who topped the recent Pichay Cup in Subic, defeated IM Yves Ranola in 35 moves of the Bogo-Indian in the third round late Sunday and Sanchez in 45 moves of the Slav the following round to stay in the hunt for the P150,000 top prize with three points out of a possible four.

Three players — IM Rolando Nolte, IM Oliver Barbosa and IM Richard Bitoon — share third to fifth places with 2.5 points.

Nolte, one of five IMs in the field, drew with Barbosa in the third round and GM Eugene Torre in the fourth round.

Barbosa halved the point with Nolte and IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia, while Bitoon split the point with Sanchez and Antonio.

Garcia, who earned his IM title during the Asian Zone 3.3 championships in Tagaytay City last month, drew his matches against GM John Paul Gomez in the third round and Barbosa in the fourth round to lead three other players with two points.

The group included Torre, Antonio and Gonez.

In post-game analysis, Salvador admitted making a dubious move against So on the 42nd, which could have put more pressure on black in an endgame where both players went under time pressure.

The Europe-based Sanchez said 42. h3 is a lot better than 42. Rg3.

“I think it was a big mistake ( Rg3),” claimed Sanchez.

So, however, had an easier time against Barcenilla the following round.

Barcenilla, who earned the elusive GM title only this year, recalled having played a similar game against So in the internet Chess Club.

But the Texas-based Filipino, who rose to prominence by winning the Asian junior chess championships twice, claimed he got confused in the continuation and lost badly wityh the black pieces.

Bordonada, who is analyzing So’s games for the Barangay Wesley, said Barcenilla’s knight sacrifice was actually the third best move for black after Qa6 and Nxd5.

“Black’s position at that point was lost. Baka nainis na si Banjo (Barcenilla) sa position kaya nag-sacrifice na lang,” noted Bordonada.

More here.

Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
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