ASEAN MASTERS CHESS

GONZALES GETS GM NORM; NOLTE EARNS LAST IM NORM IN ASEAN MASTER CHESS

Individual Standings after round 10: (Single round-robin format/ three division)
Group A
8.5 points—Z. Zhong (Singapore); 7 — Tirto (Indonesia); 6.5 —W. So (RP), S. Megaranto (Indonesia); 6 — E. Torre (RP); 5— C. Purnama (Indonesia); 4.5 — M. Hafizulhelmi (Malaysia); 4.— H. Nouri (RP); 3.5 —N. Ginting (Indonesia), C. Kosasih (Indonesia); 3—N. Situru (Indonesia);2—B. Nadera (RP)
Group B
8.5 points—M. Paragua (RP); 7— J. Gonzales (RP); 6.5— A. Nadanian (Armenia); 6— R. Nolte (RP), S. Mahmud (Indonesia); 5.5—S. Prayitno (Indonesia); 5—O. Barbosa (RP); S. Sitanggang (Indonesia); 4—C. Barus (Indonesia); 3.5— H. Ardiansyah (Indonesia); 2.5—T.M. Mk (Malaysia); 0.5—I.Sukandar (Indonesia)
WIM
9 points—I. Sadikin (Indonesia); 8—E. Handoko (Indonesia); 7— G. Chua (Singapore); 6.5— E. Lindiawati (Indonesia); 5.5— T.M. Hung (Vietnam), J. Tay (Singapore); 4.5— B.Mendoza (RP), C.Bernales (RP); 3— N. Verdiana (Indonesia); 2.5— T. Handayani (Indonesia), V. Chan (Singapore); 1.5—D. Citra (Indonesia)

DESPITE a setback in the tenth and penultimate round, Jayson Gonzales, member of the multi-titlist Philippine Army Chess Team, already earned his third grandmaster (GM) norm while compatriot Roland Nolte, playing under the banner of the Philippine Airforce Chess Team also earned his third International Master (IM) norm plus including his first GM norm in the process.

The news broke yesterday by Gonzales through this writer in a long distance call.

"Ngayon ko lamang nalaman (yesterday) na finally nakuha ko na ang 3rd at final GM norm ng makaiskor ako ng 7.0 points sa round 9 habang si (Rolando) Nolte ay nakuha din ang kanyang 3 rd at final IM norm at 1st GM norm ng makaiskor naman siya ng 6.0 points sa round 9." Explained Gonzales to this writer going to the final round yesterday of inaugural ASEAN Masters Chess Circuit in the Indonesian city of Tarakan in East Kalimantan (Borneo).

"Pero kung hindi ko ma meet ang 7/9 requirements p'wede ko ding makuha sa 8.5/11 requirements." Added Gonzales, whose stint here is supported by National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) president Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr., Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chair William "Butch" Ramirez and businessman Reginald Tee.

National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCF) president Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr.lauded Gonzales and Nolte's feat in the Asean Master Chess Circuit.

" Magandang inspirasyon sa ating mga kababayan at sa mga kabataan ang magandang hated na balita nina Jayson (Gonzales) at Rolando (Nolte). Bagong GM at IM ng Pilipinas. I hope marami pang player natin na makakuha ng title norms sa taong ito," Pichay referring to GM candidate Julio Catalino Saddora, who had a good showing in the past international tournament here in the country.

Gonzales and Nolte, both long-time resident of Quezon City caught the attention of QC majority floor leader and 4th district councilor Ariel Inton who will past a resolution to the QC council given citation to the two Quezon City resident heroes in the field of chess.

" I pu-push natin sa (QC) council na bigyan ng rekomendasyon kina Jayson (Gonzales) at Rolando (Nolte) bilang pagkilala sa kabayanihang hatid nila sa ating bansa particular na ang Lungsod Quezon," said Inton, a well known sports advocate, who acknowledge and congratulate Gonzales and Nolte in the opening of Quezon City Inter-Barangay Chess Team Tournament yesterday at the Amoranto SB Gym in Quezon City.

"Actually si Jayson kababata ko yan sa V. Luna from Brgy. Pinyahan at sa inter-barangay ng QC ay sumasali dati din yan at madalas maglaro sa kampo." Explained Inton.

In the ninth round, Gonzales beat countryman FM Oliver Barbosa after 25 moves of a Nimzovitch Defense but succumbed to Armenian IM Ashot Nadanian after 74 moves of a Kings Indian Defense in the tenth round.

"Grabe pinilit kong manalo kasi winning na ako kay (Ashot) Nadanian kaso natalo pa," said Gonzales, who got his first GM norm came in the 2004 Calvia Open in Calvia, Spain where he finished third with 7.0 points in nine rounds and earned his second GM norm in the Asian Zonal elims in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in September 2005.

Nolte, on the other hand, upset Indon GM Herman Ardiansyah after 33 moves of a Sicilian Defense in the ninth round but yielded to Indon FM Syarif Mahmud after 34 moves of another Sicilian Duel in the tenth round.

GM Mark Paragua still lording Group B (GM) category with a 34 moves triumph over Malaysian FM Tze Meng Kok in their Modern Defense clash to raise his total 8.5 points, 1.5 points head to his closest-rival Gonzales with 7.0 points, followed by Nadanian with 6.5 points and Nolte with 6.0 points.

In the Group A (GM) category, GM Wesley So fought a hard fighting draw over Malaysian IM Mas Hafizulhelmi after 54 moves of a Sicilian Ritzer Rauzer Attack to raise his total 6.5 points and share Indon GM Susanto Megaranto for third to fourth placers. Megaranto, the brightest hope of Indonesia beat FM Hamed Nouri after46 moves of a Sicilian Defense. Another GM entry Eugene Torre, meanwhile held into a draw with FM Cecep Kosasih after 77 moves of a Giuco Piano Opening to score 6.0 points and move solo fifth placers.

Top seed GM Zhang Zhong (2671) of Singapore halve the point with IM Barlo Nadera after 37 moves of a Nimzo Indian Defense to remain on top with 8.5 points, 1.5 points head with Indon IM Tirto with 7.0 points.

In the Women International Master (WIM) section, IM Irwanto Sadikin and GM Edhi Handoko of Indonesia and FM Graham Chua of Singapore) hurdle their respective rivals to remain on top.

Sadikin beat Vietnam WFM Nguyen Thi May Hung, Handoko beat WIM Beverly Mendoza while Chua nipped WNM Christy Lamiel Bernales.

Contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO