Wednesday, January 16, 2013

La Salle-Taft Chess Coach shocks IM Nadera in PSC Chess



La Salle-Taft Chess Coach Fide Master Randy Segarra (ELO 2311) turned back former olympian No.13 seed International Master Barlo Nadera (ELO 2392) in the third round of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Cup International Chess Championships at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila.
Thus, he has joined a five-way tie with four other chess players atop the tournament ranking on Tuesday in the US$30,000 SMART-sponsored nine Round-Swiss tournament, hosted by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) headed by it's Chairman Ricardo Garcia and organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) headed by it's Chairman / President Prospero A. Pichay Jr. , Secretary-General and Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham 'Bambol' Tolentino Jr. and Executive Director Jayson Gonzales.

The FIDE event offers a top prize of US $6,000, supported by Puregold, Manila Pavilion Hotel, City State Tower Hotel and Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Peping Cojuangco.

Joining Segarra at the top with 3.0 points out of three rounds of play are No.6 GM Mark Paragua (ELO 2519), No.7 GM Darwin Laylo (ELO 2491), No.14 FM Haridas Pascua (ELO 2386) and No.15 FM Gombosuren Munkhgal of Mongolia (ELO 2372).

The No. 24 Segarra, earlier brought down No.60 Silverio Abasolo and No.5 GM John Paul Gomez, had a total performance rating of 2771, gunning for his coveted International Master (IM) title.

" I hope magtuloy-tuloy ang panalo natin para makopo ang pinakamimithing IM title," he added.
In other matches saw, Paragua toppled NM Nelson Villanueva (ELO 2268); Laylo routed FM David Elorta (ELO 2343); Pascua subdued Nelson 'Elo' Mariano III (ELO 2251) and Munkhgal upset countryman GM-elect Bayarsaikhan Gundavaa (ELO 2522).

In the Wednesday's fourth round matches pit, Paragua opposite Munkhgal; Pascua will meet Laylo and Segarra goes up against 12-time national open champion GM Rogelio 'Joey' Antonio Jr. (ELO 2541).
The No. 3 Antonio, top player of multi-titled Philippine Army chess team, dismantled No.27 NM Roger Sarip (ELO 2284).

Antonio led the group of 2.5 pointers that includes No.17 NM Rustum Tolentino (ELO 2364); No.19 FM Julius Joseph de Ramos (ELO 2350) and No.20 NM Hamed Nouri (ELO 2350).

Tolentino crushed No. 48 Leodegario Ricana (ELO 2062); de Ramos dealt No. 41 Ryan Dungca (ELO 2132) and Hamed waylaid No. 66 Joseph Maestrado Jr. (unrated).

Top seed Russian Super GM Aleksandr Rakhmanov (ELO 2612), who lost to Elorta in the second round scored, bounced back in contention after edging No. 32 FM Mari Joseph Turqueza (ELO 2256).

Meanwhile, second seed and World Chess Cup bound GM Oliver Barbosa (ELO 2574) outplayed No.37 IM Joel Pimentel (ELO 2174) to scored 2.0 points and shared Rakhmanov for 11th to 28th placers in the 70 player's field event.  -Marlon Bernardino-

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