WESLEY SO BEATS RICHARD BITOON

Standing after nine rounds: Men
7.5 points – W. So
6 – R. Antonio, E. Torre
5.5 – J. Gomez, R. Bitoon
4.5 – R. Nolte
4 – O. Barbosa, J. Sadorra
3.5 – H. Nouri, F. Donguines
2 – B. Villamayor
1.5 – J. Gonzales

Women
7.5 – C. Perena
6.5 – Sherily Cua
6 – Shercila Cua
5.5 – Y. Jose, C. Camacho
5 – A. Salvador
4.5 – C. Bernales
3.5 – B. Mendoza, E. Magno
3 – K. Cunanan, J. Palomo
2 – J. Docena

GM Wesley So trounced IM Richard Bitoon in 68 moves of the Sicilian in their ninth-round showdown to take a commanding one-and-a half point lead over GMS Rogelio Antonio Jr. and Eugene Torre with only two rounds remaining in the 2008 "Battle of GMs" chess championship at the 11th floor, Bayside Hall, City State Hotel in Mabini St.. cor. Padre Faura, Manila.

Overall, the 14-year-old Bacoor, Cavite campaigner So has 7.5 points on six wins and three draws.

So, only needs a draw in one of his two remaining matches against NM Oliver Barbosa in the 10th round or IM John Paul Gomez in the final round to formally capture the title and pocket the top prize of P200,000 in this 11-round tournament organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP).

Antonio subdued FM Fernie Donguines in only 25 moves of the Owen's Defense to catch up with Torre for second to third places with six points.

Torre settled for a draw with Gomez in 65 moves of the Queen's Pawn game.
Mathematically, only Antonio and Torre can still catch up with So at the end of the tournament.

So, however, won over Antonio in the second round and drew with Torre in the fourth round.

Gomez and Bitoon share fourth to fifth places with 5.5 points.

Sadorra outplayed GM Jayson Gonzales in 54 move sof the Queen's Gambit Accepted, while comebacking GM Buenaventura Bong" Villamayor crushed NM Rolando Nolte in 64 moivs of the Center Counter in other ninth-round matches.

In the women's division, Catheirne Perena halved the point with Cristy Lamiel Bernales in marathon 79 moves of the Nimzo-Indian to keep a one–point lead over Sheriyl Cua after nine rounds of play.

Cua drew with older sister Shercila Cua in 36 moves of the English.

contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO, edited by jovie sison