LATEST CHESS NEWS AS OF DECEMBER 2

RODRIGUEZ TOPS 8TH LEG OF NCFP EXECUTIVE CHESS

Final Standings: (six round Swiss-system)

Christopher Rodriguez 5.0 pts.; NM Sammy Estimo 4.5 pts; Dennis San Juan, NM Dennis Gutierrez, NM Dante Zuniga, Dr. Jenny Mayor 4.0 pts.; WIM Christine Rose Mariano, Trine Olmedo, John-John Mendoza, NM Marlon Bernardino 3.5 pts.

PHILPPINE NAVY stalwart Christopher Rodriguez dominated the just concluded 8th leg of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) Executives and Professionals Chess Challenge at the Greenhouse Grill, 31 Matalino St., Diliman, Quezon City , on Saturday.

Rodriguez, also the head coach of Adamson University Varsity Chess Team compiled with a total of five points after six games of play in the event sponsored by NCFP chairman Rep. Matias Defensor and supported by Cebu sportsman Bombi Aznar, NCFP vice president Ed Madrid and directors Benguet Governor Raul Molintas , Gen. Art Carrillo and Jess Torre.

Two-time champion NM Samuel Estimo, executive director of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines settled for solo second with 4.5 points.

Rounding up the top ten winners were Dennis San Juan (3rd), NM Dennis Gutierrez (4th), NM Dante Zuniga (5th), Dr. Jenny Mayor (6th), WIM Christine Rose Mariano (7th), Trine Olmedo (8th), John-John Mendoza (9th), and sports writer and NM Marlon Bernardino (10th).

According to International Arbiter Joey Moseros, the triumvirate (Rodriguez, Mariano and Mendoza) will advance to the Grand Finals next year along with Danny Geronimo, Manny Batalla, Johnny Bargo and Danny Ponay.

Meanwhile, the registration of Quezon City Inter-Barangay Chessfest is now on full swing. This event is sponsored by Quezon City Majority floor leader and 4th district councilor Ariel Inton, the chess tournament is slated on December 13, 14, 15 and 16 at the Amoranto Sports Complex in Quezon City. Registration fee is P1,000 for each team.

Participants may call GM Eugene Torre (09228822870), Dr. Mayor (09194782209) or Atty. Estimo (09159360354)






SADORRA UPSETS GM ZHANG IN PICHAY CHESS CUP

Standings after two rounds:
2 points -- R. Antonio (RP), D. Laylo (RP), W. So (RP), O. Dimakiling (RP), J. Sadorra (RP), O. Barbosa (RP), D. Elorta (RP), H. Ni (China), E. Ghaem (Iran), Tirto (Indonesia), Q. Huang (China), D. T. Hai (Vietnam), R. Li (Singapore) 1.5 -- R. Dableo (RP), R. Bitoon (RP), B. Nadera (RP), I. Adante (RP), L. Chao (China), N.A. Dung (Vietnam), G. Xiaobing (China)

SINGAPORE BASED International Master Julio Catalino Sadorra stunned second seed GM Zhang Zhong of Singapore in the second round of the third Prospero Pichay Jr. Cup Intenational Open chess championships at the Duty Free Fiesta Mall in Paranaque City yesterday.

Sadorra , one of the country's finest young players still seeking to gain worldwide recognition, toppled Zhong (ELO 2634) in only 48 moves of the Nimzo Indian to take the headstart in this tough, nine-round tournament organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) under Pichay and Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino.

The Singapore-based Sadorra also hurdled his first-round assignment against unhearalded R.J. Magallanes.

"I hope I can continue to play well," said Sadorra, who is best remembered for beating top seed GM Ni Hua of China also in the second round of the second President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Cup chess championship held last week.

Unheralded David Elorta aso made hi spresnece felt with back-to-back upset wins over Hame Nouri and Weiq Zhou fo China.

Five other Filipino campaigners -- GMs Rogelio Antonio Jr. and Darwin Laylo, IMs Wesley So and Oliver Dimakiling and NM Oliver Barbosa -- also posted back-to-back victories to share the lead with Sadorra, GM Ni Hua, GM Ehsan Ghame Maghami of Iran, Tirto of Indonesia, WIM Huang Qian of China, WGM Li Ruofan of Singapore and GM Dao THien Hai of Vietnam.

Antonio, still the country's highest-rated player with an ELO of 2540 despite a so-so performance in the GMA Cup, whipped compatriot Arlan Cabe in the first round and IM Halay Taufik of Indonesia in the second round.

Laylo, who is still smarting from a first-round loss to GM Etienne Bacrot of France in the World Chess Cup in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia, swept his fist two matches against Mirabeau Maga and Voltaire Sevilano.

So dumped Rhobel Legaspi and Rolando Nolte, Dimakiling crushed Fernandito Pialana and NM Petronio Roca and Barbosa trounced Boris Michael Diez and Jason Salubre.

Six foreign bets, led by GMs Ni Hua and Ehsan Ghaem Maghami of Iran, also kept their perfect record by humbling Ernesto Fernandez and Sander Severino, in the second round, respectively.

In the first round, Ni humbled Dino Ballecer and Ghaem downed FM Fernie Donguines.

Also in the early lead were GM Dao Thien Hai of Vietnam, Tirto of Indonesia, WGM Li Ruofan of Singapore and WIM Huang Qian of China.

GMs Eugene Torre and Mark Paragua also bounced back from a pair of upset losses in the opening round by downing their respective second-round opponents -- WIM Irene Sukandar of Indonesia and Pialan.

Late Saturday, Torre lost to No. 40 seed Shen Siyuan of China and Paragua fell to No. 43 WGM Gu Xiaobing of China.

Also striking back were GM-candidate Jayson Gonzales, who beat Diez; IM Chito Garma, who bested Magallanes; Donguines, who nipped WIM Beverly Mendoza; Efren Bagamasbad, who stopped Christopher Castellano; Nouri, who repulsed Richard de la Cruz; and Maga, who overwhelmed Leo Ausan.



FM SALES TIES FOR 2ND TO 6TH PLACE IN MELBOURNE TOURNEY

FILIPINO Fide Master Jesse Noel Sales tied for the second to sixth prizes in the Ellwood Bendigo Open, with Australian GM Darryl Johansen capturing the first prize.

FM Sales was the lone Filipino titled player in the Melbourne tournament, which attracted 86 players in all, including two grandmasters, two international masters and four other Fide masters.

GM Johansen finished in solo first with 6.0 points, followed by five runners-up with 5.5 each led by Serbian GM Dehan Antic,

With GM Antic were Australian IMs Stephen Solomon and Leonid Sandler, FM Igor Bjelobrk, also of Australia, and FM Sales of the Philippines.

Eight others tied for the seventh to 14th places, namely, Igor Goldenberg, Mirko Rujevic, Dusan Stojic, Edsil Skiotis, David Hacche, Andrew Brown and Dean Hogg. They had 5.0 each. Sales migrated to Australia two or three years ago.

Reports from MARLON BERNARDINO