Battle of Grandmasters: Wesley virtual champ
By Roy Luarca
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 02:06:00 03/31/2009

Standings after 10 rounds:MEN: 16.0 points—W. So; 13.0—R. Antonio; 12.0—E. Torre; 11.5—D. Laylo; 11.0—J. Gomez, J. Sadorra; 10.0—M. Paragua, R. Bitoon; 8.0—R. Nolte; 7.0—J. Gonzales; 5.5—B. Villamayor; 5.0—R. Dableo

WOMEN: 15.0—Shercila Cua; 14.5—B. Mendoza; 13.0—Sherily Cua; 12.0—D. Rivera, C. Bernales, J. Fronda; 9.0—L. Cuizon, K. Cunanan; 6.5—R. Jose; 5.0—J. Docena; 4.0—R. Young

DAPITAN CITY, Zamboanga Del Norte —It’s in the bag for defending champion Grandmaster Wesley So.

So settled for back-to-back draws with GM-candidates Julio Catalino Sadorra and Richard Bitoon to virtually capture his second straight title and the top purse of P200,000 with only one round left in the 2009 Phoenix Petroleum-Dapitan City “Battle of GMs” chess championship at the Dapitan City Resort Hotel here late Sunday.

The 15-year-old high school student from St. Francis-Cavite halved the point with Sadorra in 36 moves of the French and with Bitoon in only 30 of the Sicilian Pelican to raise his score to 15 points in this 11-round tournament hosted by the Dapitan City government headed by Mayor Dominador Jalosjos.

Counting his six victories in the first seven rounds, So totes an insurmountable three-point lead over GM Rogelio Antonio Jr.

(So later drew his un-played sixth-round game with Antonio in 31 moves of a Sicilian.)

GM Eugene Torre, who showed vintage form in winning the third President Macapagal-Arroyo Cup late last year, made the biggest gain with consecutive wins.

Torre outduelled GM Bong Villamayor in 39 moves of the London Opening in the ninth round and GM John Paul Gomez in 46 of the Bogo-Indian in the 10th to bounce back into contention with 12 points, good for third spot.

Antonio trounced Gomez in 41 moves of the Benoni but drew with GM Mark Paragua.

Dresden Olympiad veteran GM Darwin Laylo drew with IM Rolando Nolte in 30 moves of the Center Counter and subdued GM Jayson Gonzales in 33 of the Slav to climb to solo fourth place with 11.5 points.

Source: http://sports.inquirer.net

Standings after 10 rounds:

Rk.
Name FED Rtg Pts.
1 GM SO Wesley PHI 2627 8,0
2 GM ANTONIO Rogelio Jr PHI 2519 6,5
3 GM TORRE Eugenio PHI 2560 6,0
4 GM GOMEZ John Paul PHI 2539 5,5
5 GM LAYLO Darwin PHI 2504 5,5
6 IM SADORRA Julio Catalino PHI 2445 5,5
7 IM BITOON Richard PHI 2473 5,0
8 GM PARAGUA Mark PHI 2537 5,0
9 IM NOLTE Rolando PHI 2488 4,0
10 GM GONZALES Jayson PHI 2468 3,5
11 GM VILLAMAYOR Buenaventura PHI 2471 3,0
12 IM DABLEO Ronald PHI 2432 2,5
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Susan Polgar March 31, 2009 Chess Improvement, General News 4 Comments
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