SO, GOMEZ KEEP THEIR HOLD OF THE LEAD

AS BERNALES STUNS MENDOZA

GRANDMASTER Wesley So and International Master John Paul Gomez hurdled their respective rivals to remain on top after round 2 Saturday in the Philippine Battle of the Grandmasters at the 11th floor of the City State Hotel in Mabini.

The 14 year old Wesley So, currently the world's youngest GM, beat GM Rogelio "Joey" Antonio Jr. after 50 moves of Caro-Kann Defense to notch his second point in the FIDE rated event, organized and sponsored by NCFP president Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr., NCFP secretary-general Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino Jr. in close cooperation with PAGCOR and City State Hotel.

The country's highest rated player made full use of his knight and bishop to gain positional advantage. Antonio was forced to give up a rook to prevent So's pawn on the c-file from advancing.

"Medyo complicated 'yung laro namin ni Kuya Joey (Antonio), buti nakuha sa tiyaga po," said So, incoming third year student at the St. Francis of Assisi in Bacoor.

Earlier, Gomez upset Singapore-based GM Buenaventura "Bong" Villamayor in 41 moves of Benko Opening. The 21-year-old two-time national junior champion was two pawns up when Villamayor waved the white flag. Gomez also had an unstoppable pawn on the g-file.

Half point behind the co-leaders were GM Eugene Torre, National Master Hamed Nouri and Cebuano International Master Richard Bitoon.

Torre outplayed FIDE Master Fernie Donguines after 56 moves of Alekhine while handling the black pieces for the second straight game; Nouri stunned GM-elect Jayson Gonzales after 27 moves of London Opening; and Bitoon downed NM Oliver Barbosa after 41 moves of Sicilian.

IM Julio Catalino Sadorra and NM Rolando Nolte, who both dropped their opener, split the point after 40 moves of French Defense to join the day's losers at 0.5.

In the distaff side, Woman National Master Christine Bernales shocked Woman International Master Beverly Mendoza after 46 moves of Sicilian and registered the biggest upset so far.

"Nakita ko na pag Rh1 ko ay panalo na ako," said Bernales, 3rd year HS student at the University of the East- Manila.

In other matches, WNM Jedara Docena toppled WNM Kimberly Cunanan after 46 moves of Center-Counter; WNM Rulp Ylem Jose beat WNM Enerose Magno after 40 moves of Nimzovitch Defense; WNM Shercila Cua nipped WNM Aices Salvador after 40 moves of French; WNM Catherine Pereña outmaneuvered WNM Jenny Palomo after 31 moves of Bishop Opening; and WNM Sherily Cua scalped WNM Chardine Cheradee Camacho after 55 moves of French.

WESLESY SO WINS OPEN IN RP BATTLE OF THE GMs

MANILA, PHILIPPINES---GRANDMASTER Wesley So trounced International Master Julio Catalino Sadorra after 36-moves, Friday at the start of the Philippine Battle of the Grandmasters at the 11th floor of City State Hotel in Mabini, Manila.

Employing the black pieces, So sacrificed a pawn in the middle game to gain the initiative.

Sadorra fell to the bait and So made him pay dearly for it. With So's knight proving to be unstoppable, Sadorra was forced to resign.

"Complicated 'yung middle game namin," related So, currently the youngest GM in the world. "Mas pinili ko na 'yung magbigay ng pawn para makapag-create ng atake."

The 14-year-old sophomore student at St. Francis of Assisi in Bacoor, Cavite was the first player to notch a full point in the FIDE rated tournament.

Asia's first GM Eugene Torre and GM-elect Jayson Gonzales split the point in their Slav encounter.

Gonzales, playing with white, appeared to be on his way to victory with solid center pawns. But Torre managed to force a repetition of moves, leading to a draw after 32 pushes.

" Ok lamang ang draw, para makapag preserba ng lakas sa susunod na round. Beside si Eugene (Torre) din yan," said Gonzales, top player of the Philippine Army.

National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) president Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr. said the round-robin event will serve as this year's national championship.

"These players are the strongest we have in the country," said Pichay during the brief opening ceremony which graced by no less than Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chair William "Butch" Ramirez and NCFP director Wilfredo "Willie" Abalos.

"We need competitive tournaments like this to improve the level of play of our players. Soon enough we will be a force to reckon with again in the international scene." said Pichay.

"Chess is the superior game in all sports, dahil ito ay mental sports." he added. "We have to look super gm 5 years from now." last word of Pichay, who already prdouce three grandmaster under his term.

The other opening round matches pit GM Joey Antonio against National Master Hamed Nouri, GM Bong Villamayor against IM Oliver Barbosa, IM Rolando Nolte against IM John Paul Gomez and IM Richard Bitoon against FIDE Master Fernie Donguines.

In the distaff side, Woman National Master Aices Salvador trunced back WNM Christy Bernales after 22 moves of French while WNM Shercila Cua beat WNM Jedara Docena after 20 moves of Queen's Pawn Game.

The other matches in the women's side pit Woman International Master Beverly Mendoza against WNM Rulp Ylem Jose, WNM Enerose Magno against Jennelyn Paloma Gonzales, WNM Kimberly Cunanan against WNM Chardine Cheradee Camacho and WNM Sherily Cua against WNM Catherine Pereña.

contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO, edited by jovie sison