So, Bitoon in big starts in Battle of GMs
Published : Sunday, July 17, 2011 00:00
Written by : Ed Andaya
Standings after first round:
1 points — W. So, R. Bitoon
.5 — R. Antonio, E. Torre, M. Paragua, D. Laylo, J. Gomez, R. Barcenilla, O. Barbosa, R. Salvador, R. Nolte, J. Garcia
0 — J. Sanchez, Y. Ranola
Pairings for second round:
W. So vs. R. Antonio, Y. Ranola vs. J. Garcia, J. Gomez vs. R. Nolte, O. Barbosa vs. R. Barcenilla, E. Torre vs. R. Salvador, M. Paragua vs. J. Sanchez, R. Bitoon vs. D. Laylo.
DEFENDING champion GM Wesley So served notice of his title-retention bid with a masterful win over GM Joseph Sanchez at the start of the fourth ‘Battle of GMs’ chess championship at the National Press Club Bldg. in Intramuros, Manila.
So, who finished a fighting fourth in the recent AAI chess tournament in New Delhi, India early this month, played almost flawlessly to subdue the Europe-based Sanchez in only 35 moves of the Sicilian Najdorf.
“Medyo mahirap pero napagtiyagaan sa huli,” said the 17-year-old Filipino champion, who is hoping to assert his supremacy in local chess for thefourth straight year.
The pride of Bacoor, Cavite is also hoping to redeem himself after watching his FIDE rating drop to No. 89 in the latest list from a high of No. 75.
Up next for So in the tough, 14-player, 13-round competition which offers the top prize of P150,000 is GM Rogelio Antonio, Jr. who split the point with Asia’s first GM Eugene Torre in 31 moves of the King’s Pawn game.
Sharing the limelight with So is GM-candidate Richard Bitoon, who made short work of IM Yves Ranola in only 24 moves of the English opening.
Bitoon, the multi-awarded campaigner from Medelin, Cebu, pounced on a fatal blunder by Ranola — 22. f5 — to eke out the win.
With the prospect of losing his queen, Ranola resigned two moves later.
“Maganda yung chances ko, especially after nung blunder niya. Meron pang mating attack ako ,” said Bitoon when asked about the victory..
Newly-crowned Campomanes Memorial Cup champion IM Oliver Barbosa also settled for with GM Roland Salvador in 31 moves of another Sicilian to lead a big group of players with half point.
“Mahirap pilitin kaya ayos na din itong tabla sa first round,” said Barbosa, who is also fresh from topping the AFPI “Chess for a Cause” tournament at the Philippine Army gym in Fort Bonifacio.
Also drawing their matches were World Cup qualifier GM Mark Paragaua and Pichay Cup champion GM Darwin Laylo in 35 moves of the Sicilian; comebacking two-time Asian junior champion GM Rogelio Barcenilla Jr.. and GM John Paul Gomez in 31 moves of another Sicilian; and IM Rolando Nolte against IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia.
Barcenilla, who topped the Asian junior championship in Dubai, UAE in 1989 and Calicut, India in 1991, is making his first appearance in the country since achieving his long-overdue GM title during the recent FIDE Congress.
The annual tournament is supported by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), , National Press Club and Pilipinas Shell.
Source: http://www.journal.com.ph
No competition for So.