WESLEY SO GRABS SOLO LEAD

INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS AFTER ROUND 3:(Mens Division)

3.0 points---GM Wesley So,
2.5 points---GM Eugene Torre, IM John Paul Gomez, IM Julio Catalino Sadorra
2.0 points--- GM Rogelio Antonio, IM Richard Bitoon,
1.5 point---FM Fernie Donguines
1.0 point---NM Nouri Hamed,
0.5 point---GM Jayson Gonzales, GM Bong Villamayor, IM Rolando Nolte, NM Oliver Barbosa

GRANDMASTER Wesley So got the better of fellow GM Jayson Gonzales to grab solo leadership after three rounds, Sunday in the Philippine Battle of the Grandmasters at the 11th floor of the City State Hotel in Mabini.

The highest rated Filipino player with 2540 ELO pushed his total to perfect 3.0 points, half point ahead of GM Eugene Torre, IM John Paul Gomez and IM Julio Catalino Sadorra who are in joint second to 5th placers with 2.5 points each.

So, 14, the world's youngest grandmaster prevailed with the black pieces in their English Opening, Symetrical System after 41 moves.

"Medyo pinalad lamang po tayo kay kuya Jayson (Gonzales) kasi pumasok sa preparasyon po natin," said So, who is fresh from winning the tough Dubai Open Chess Championships in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and winning the one-on-one duel with Indon GM Susanto Megranto in Jakarta, Indonesia respectively to increase his ELO from 2540 to 2567.

Torre, on the other hand defeated NM Nouri Hamed to post his second straight win after settling a draw with Gonzales in the opener, Gomez halved the point with IM Richard Bitoon while Sadorra upset fellow Singapore-based GM Buenaventura "Bong" Villamayor.

GM Rogelio Antonio Jr., meanwhile bounced back in contention in this P200,000 top purse tournament after losing to So in the second round on Saturday, beat IM Rolando Nolte.

"Focus lamang, talagang concentrated tayo sa laro natin kay Nolts (Rolando Nolte), beside talagang magaling na si Wesley (So)," said Antonio, many-times national open champion

In the distaff side, WNM Cila Cua outclassed WIM Beverly Mendoza in 35 moves of the Benoni to keep the solo lead with three straight wins in the women's division.

Shercila's sister, WNMSherily, downed Asian Games bet WNM Jedara Docena in 39 moves of the Sicilian for her second win in three matches.

In other matches, WNM Catherine Pereena subdued WNM Cheradee Chardine Camacho in 36 moves of the Nimzo-Indian; WNM Christy Lamiel Bernales defeated WNM Enerose Magno in 36 moves of the Bird's opening; and WNM Kimberly Jane Cunanan split the point with WNM Aices Salvador.

Two rounds will be played (Monday) starting at 9 a.m.

At stake in the unique, 11-round tournament supported by PAGCOR and City State Hotel are cash prizes with the men's champion getting P200,000 and the women's titlist earning P50,000.

Aside from the champion's purses, the NCFP will also give away P100,000 to the men's runner-up and P70,000 to the men's third placer; and P40,000 to the women's runner-up and P30,000 to the women's third placer.

Other cash prizes are fourth placer, P50,000; fifth placer, P30,000; and sixth placer, P20.000.

In the women's division, the fourth to sixth placers will get P20,000, P15,000 and P10,000, respectively.

Tournament director is Willie Abalos, while chief arbiter is Elias Lao.

contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO, edited by jovie sison