UPDATES ON WORLD JR. CHESS + 4TH LEG NCFP CHESS

WESLEY SO DRAWS IN 40 MOVES IN ROUND 4 OF WORLD JR. CHESS

FILIPINO INTERNATIONAL MASTER No.13 Wesley So held into a draw with No.3 GM Maxim Rodshtein of Israel after 40 moves of a Queens Indian Defense using the black pieces to create a four way-tie after the fourth round of the 2007 World Juniors and Girls Chess Championships at the T. Petrosian Chess House in Yerevan, Armenia, on Saturday.

So, who turns 14 on Oct. 9, whose local and International campaign is supported by Filway Marketing Inc. CEO/President Hector Tagaysay, scored 3.5 points, the same output of GM Rodshtein, No. 9 GM Georg Meier of Germany and fifth round opponent No. 15 GM David Howell of England in this Boy's 20 and under division applying a 13 round Swiss-system FIDE tournament.

GM Meier beat No.31 IM Sasha Kaplan after 48 moves of a French Defense while GM Howell split the point with No. 2 GM Daniel Stellwagen of the Netherlands after 30 moves of another French Duel. GM Meier and GM Rodshtein will clash in the next round in the top board encounter.

Top seed GM Wang Hao of China settled for a truce with No.11 GM Ivan Popov of Russia after 50 moves of a Sicilian defense to lead the big bunch of 3.0 pointers in the company of GM Stellwagen, GM Popov, GM Arman Pashikiran of Armenia, GM Victor Laznicka of Czech Republic, GM Gawain C.B. Jones of England, GM Ahmed Adley of Egypt, GM Deepan Chakkravarthy of India, GM Dmitry Andreikin of Russia, IM Hrant Melkumyan of USA, IM Evgeny Romanov of Russia, and Dzurabek Khamrakulov of Armenia.

Meanwhile, Filipina Woman National Master Aices Salvador suffered his third loses this time at the hands of Anahit Kharatyan of Armenia to remains at 1.0 point in the Girl's 20 and under division.

WIM Vera Nebolsina of Russia and WFM Sarah Hoolt of Germany hurdle their respective rivals to share the lead with 4.0 points each.

WIM Nebolsina beat WGM Bela Khotenashvili of Georgia while WFM Hoolt, conquero's of Salvador in the Wednesday first round, trounced WFM Tatevik Airapetian of Armenia.

The solo champion, both boy's and girl's 20 and under division will earn an outright grandmaster (GM) and woman grandmaster (WGM) title, respectively.

Individual Standings after round 4:
3.5 points---IM Wesley So (Philippines), GM Maxim Rodshtein (Israel), GM David Howell (England), GM Georg Meier (Germany)

3.0 points---GM Wang Hao (China), GM Daniel Stellwagen (Netherlands), GM Arman Pashikiran (Armenia), GM Victor Laznicka (Czech Republic), GM Gawain C.B. Jones (England), GM Ivan Popov (Russia), GM Ahmed Adley (Egypt), GM Deepan Chakkravarthy (India), GM Dmitry Andreikin (Russia), IM Hrant Melkumyan (USA), IM Evgeny Romanov (Russia), Dzurabek Khamrakulov (Armenia)


NM EFREN BAGAMASBAD TOPS 4TH LEG OF NCFP CHESS

NATIONAL MASTER Efren Bagamasbad ruled the just conluded 4th leg of NCFP Executives and Professionals Chess Challenge late Saturday at the Greenhouse Grill, 31 Matalino St., Diliman, Quezon City.

The former supervisor of Coca Cola Philippines notched 5.0 points in six outings to take home the top prize, a Colored TV in this one-day event sponsored by Primanila Realty and Development Corporation Chairman and CEO Ed Madrid, also the vice president of NCFP.

Tied for 2nd to 4th placers were RP six-time executive champion Dr. Jenny Mayor, Dino Ballecer and NCFP Leyte coordinator NM Mario Rebano who scored identical 4.5 points apiece.

Tournament arbiter Boyet Tardecilla of NAPCA said other woodpushers make it to the top 10 were Butch Villavieja (5th), Lito Dormitorio (6th), NM Samuel Estimo (7th), NM Eduardo Agagon (8th), Romeo Talavera (9th) and Jose Aspiras (10th).

For future events, please call and contact GM Eugene Torre (09228822870), Dr. Jenny Mayor (09194782209) and NCFP incumbent Executive Director Atty. Samuel D. Estimo (09159360354).

Final Standings:
NM Efren Bagamasbad 5.0 points, Jenny Mayor, Dino Ballecer, NM Mario Rebano 4.5 points, Butch Villavieja, Lito Dormitorio, NM Samuel Estimo, NM Eduardo Agagon 4.0 points, Romeo Talavera, Jose Aspiras 3.5 points

(Reports from MARLON BERNARDINO)