Paragua seizes lead in Pacquiao Asian Chess

by Marlon Bernardino

Individual Standings after Round 5:
(Open division)
4.5 points---GM Mark Paragua (PHI)
4.0 points---GM Julio Catalino Sadorra (PHI), GM Le Quang Liem (VIET), GM John Paul Gomez (PHI), GM Richard Bitoon (PHI), GM Li Chao (CHN)
(Women's Division)
4.0 points---IM Batkhuyag Munguntuul (MGL), WGM Mary Ann Gomes (IND), WGM Guo Qi (CHN), WGM Wang Jue (CHN)
3.5 points---WGM Huang Qian (CHN), WGM Nafisa Muminova (UZB), IM Pham Le Thao Nguyen (VIET), WIM Ni Shiqun (CHN), WGM Tan Zhongyi (CHN), WFM Marie Antoinette San Diego (PHI)

MANILA – Grandmaster (GM) Mark Paragua defeated countryman GM Julio Catalino Sadorra in 33 moves of French defense to grab the solo leadership board after the fifth round of the $100,000 Manny Pacquiao Cup Asian Continental Chess Championship on Wednesday at the Midas Hotel and Casino here.

In the 31st moves, Sadorra commited big blunder by putting his knight in the c8 square instead moving at c6 square allowing Paragua in a brilliant rook sacrifice against the white bishop of the former (Sadorra) enroute checkmate in the 33th moves.

"May pagkakataon sanang makatabla kung nailagay ko ang knight sa c6 square at hindi sa c8 square sa 31 moves," said the 26-year-old Sadorra, a senior business administration student at University of Texas-Dallas.

"May malaking chance sa draw kung y'ung knight n'ya (Sadorra) ay nalagay sa c6 square para hindi ako makapag sacrifice," added the 29-year-old Paragua.

The Bulacan ace Paragua raised his total to 4.5 points. 

He is now half point ahead over compatriots Sadorra, GMs John Paul Gomez and Richard Bitoon, GM Li Chao of China and top seed GM Le Quang Liem of Vietnam.

The nine-round Swiss System event offering $100,000 in prizes is organized by the GM Eugene Torre Chess Foundation and is sponsored by eight-division world boxing champion and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao, Cafe Puro, Alaxan, Oriental and Motolite Corp. is held under the auspices of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines headed by it's Chairman/President Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr., Secretary-General newly-elected Cavite 7th district Rep. Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino Jr., Asian Chess Federation and FIDE (World Chess Federation).

In the sixth round, Paragua will meet Le on board one, Li opposite Bitoon on board two and Sadorra goes up against Gomez on board three.

In other results, Gomez defeated GM Li Shilong of China after 33 moves of Gruenfeld defense; Bitoon edged GM Rogelio "Joey" Antonio Jr. after 47 moves of Catalan Opening; Li Chao routed GM Dao Thie Hai of Vietnam after 37 moves of Sicilian defense and Le split the point with GM Lalith Babu of India after 47 moves of Queen's Indian defense.

In the women's division, WGM Mary Ann Gomes of India outclassed WGM Guliskhan Nakhbayeva of Kazakhstan to create a four-way tie for first along with IM Batkhuyag Munguntuul of Mongolia, WGMs Guo Qi and Wang Jue of China who notch 4.0 points each. Munguntuul drew with WGM Huang Qian of China; Guo bested WGM Nguyen Thi Thanh An of Vietnam; Wang nipped WIM Hoang Thi Nhu Y of Vietnam. WFM Antoinette San Diego blasted WGM Swaminathan Soumya of India to lead the group of 3.5 pointers that includes WGMs Huang Qian and  Tan Zhongyi and WIM Ni Shiqun of China, WGM Nafisa Muminova of Uzbekistan and IM Pham Le Thao Nguyen of Vietnam.