Mark Paragua Wins PSC Chess; Pockets $6,000

GRANDMASTER Mark Paragua,  the 6th Philippines International Grandmaster (2005), the former  Philippines’ no.1 chess player,  and the first Filipino to breached the super GM status at 2600+ mark, won the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Cup International Chess Championships,  in an  impressive fashion on Sunday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila. 

The Tondo, Manila born Paragua, a former Southeast Asian Games most bemedalled athlete settled for a truce with 12-time national open champion GM Rogelio 'Joey' Antonio jr. after 31 moves of Sicilain defense to scored 7.5 points in nine outings and captured the coveted title. 

With his latest feat, Paragua received the pay check of top prize US$6,000 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.

GM John Paul Gomez edged FM Haridas Pascua after 37 moves of another Sicilain skirmish to scored 7.0 points, thae same output of Pascua. Gomez and Pascua, split the combined prize worth US$7,000 for second and third placers.   -Marlon Bernardino-