OCTOBER FIDE RATING AND PHILIPPINE RANKING

ANTONIO EDGES TORRE, SO OUTRANKS PARAGUA IN OCTOBER FIDE RATING

ROGELIO "Joey" Antonio Jr. regained his No.1 status in Philippine Chess by besting fellow Grandmaster Eugene Torre in the latest ranking released by the World Chess Federation in the October FIDE rating list yesterday.

But the biggest news however, was when 13-year-old RP whiz kid IM Wesley So beat former Super GM Mark Paragua in Philippine ranking.

Antonio, who finished No.11 in the Asian Continental Chess Championships, failed to advance in the World Chess Championships or World Cup that will be held from Nov. 23 to Dec. 18, 2007 in Khanty-Mansiysk, Ugra, Russia, accumulated a total of 2540 Fide Elo rating. This was enough for him to occupy at No.1 spot in the Philippines.

Torre, founding president of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) notched 2531, dropped into a tie for 2nd and 3rd place with So, dubbed as the "brightest hope of Philippine Chess" also with 2531, to beat the 22-year-old Paragua, who was relegated to No.4 spot with 2514 because of poor performance here and abroad.

However, the big question yesterday was why the names of IMs Ronald Dableo, Darwin Laylo, Chito Garma and Oliver Barbosa are still not listed despite the earlier announcement of NCFP boss Butch Pichay Jr. that the ban on the four player was already lifted. The said four players were banned due to allegations they were involved in game-fixing. The four players denied the accusation.

Citing the Fide Rules handbook, a player must have reached a 2500 ELO rating to earn the title of grandmaster (GM). But Laylo, (who earned his third and final GM Norm in Asian Continental Championships recently in Cebu and the only Filipino player to advance in the World Championship), has not reached the 2500 ELO rating despite three GM norms under his belt.

Rounding up to the top 15 placers were IM Rogelio "Banjo" Barcenilla Jr. (2503), IM Joseph Sanchez (2496), IM Oliver Dimakiling (2491), IM John Paul Gomez (2469), IM Roland Salvador (2456), IM Jayson Gonzales (2454), GM Nelson Mariano II (2447), IM Rolly Martinez (2447), IM Enrique Paciencia (2431), GM Buenaventura "Bong" Villamayor (2425) and IM Rico Mascariñas (2416).

On the other hand, Woman NM Catherine Pereña took the No.1 spot with 2247, and climbed at No. 63 place over-all. No.2 is WNM Shercila Cua (2203), No.3 is WFM Sheerie Joy Lomibao (2186), No.4 and No.5 are WIM Beverly Mendoza (2132), and WNM Sherily Cua (2132).

Meanwhile, GM Viswanathan Anand of India grabbed the NO.1 rank in the world's top 100 players list with 2801. The Indian GM came from a huge victory winning the World Championship title recently in Mexico who scored 9 points out of 14 rounds, the only undefeated player in the 8-man double round robin tournament.

GM Judith Polgar of Hungary adjudged No.1 in top 50 world's women players with 2708. GM Teimour Radjabov of Azerbaijan (2742) and GM Humpy Koneru of India (2606) occupied the No.1 spot in the 20-year-old below, junior division of male and female players, in that order.

(Report from MARLON BERNARDINO)