So grabs solo lead in Tagaytay Asian Zone 3.3 Chess Championship tilt; Ngoc Truong Son in 2nd spot

Round 8 pairings, Monday Board

1: GM Rogelio Antonio Jr. (Philippines) vs GM Wesley So (Philippines) Board

2: GM Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son (Vietnam) vs GM Cao Sang (Vietnam) Board

3: GM Susanto Megaranto (Indonesia) vs GM Mark Paragua (Philippines) Board

4: GM Darwin Laylo (Philippines) vs GM John Paul Gomez (Philippines) Board

5: GM Dao Thien Hai (Vietnam) vs GM Eugene Torre (Philippines) 

Individual Standings after round 7:

Open Division, Nine Round Swiss-System/ 42 player's field

6.0 points--- GM Wesley So (Philippines)

5.5 points--- GM Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son (Vietnam)

5.0 points---GM Rogelio Antonio Jr. (Philippines), GM Cao Sang (Vietnam)

4.5 points---GM Mark Paragua (Philippines), GM Susanto Megaranto (Indonesia), GM John Paul Gomez (Philippines), GM Darwin Laylo (Philippines)

4.0 points---IM Bayarsaikhan Gundavaa (Mongolia), FM Haridas Pascua (Philippines), GM Eugene Torre (Philippines), Michael Gotel (Philippines), FM Munkhgal Gombosuren (Mongolia), IM Nguyen Duc Hoa (Vietnam), FM Mari Joseph Turqueza (Philippines), GM Dao Thien Hai (Vietnam), IM Nguyen Van Huy (Vietnam)

Women Division, Nine Round Swiss-System/ 16 player's field)

6.0 points---WGM Nguyen Thi Thanh An (Vietnam)

4.5 points---WGM Hoang Thi Bao Tram (Vietnam), WIM Nguyen Thi Mai Hung (Vietnam) 

4.0 points---Bernadette Galas (Philippines), WIM Medina Warda Aulia (Indonesia), WGM Pham Le Thao Nguyen (Vietnam), WIM Hoang Thi Nhu Y (Vietnam), IM Munguntuul Batkhuyag (Mongolia), WIM Sihite Chelsie Monica (Indonesia) Tagaytay City---

Filipino Grandmaster (GM) Wes­ley So grabbed the solo lead in the seventh round of the Asian Zone 3.3 Chess Championship following an impressive victory over IM Nguyen Duc Hoa of Vietnam late Sunday at the Tagaytay International Convention Center here.

The 19-year-old So, the country’s highest-ranked player and the tournament’s top seed with an Elo rating of 2682, raised his total to 6.0 points in seven rounds in the event hosted by Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino Jr. and the city council.

Erstwhile co-leader second seed GM Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son of Vietnam elicited a draw from 12-time national open champion GM Rogelio ' Joey' Antonio Jr., improved his total to 5.5 points for the second spot in the Nine Round Swiss event organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) headed by it's Chairman/President Prospero 'Butch' Pichay Jr. and Secretary-General Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino Jr. which offers two (2) slots for this year's World Chess Cup in Tromso, Norway.

GM Oliver Barbosa is the only Filipino currently guaranteed a seat in the World Cup.

"Inaasahan natin magiging madugo ang labanan sa top five board sa penultimate round ngayong Lunes. Sana Filipino ang manalo para madagdagan ang slot natin sa World Cup," said Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) auditor Prospero 'Butch' Pichay Jr.

"Kapana-panabik ang laban nina GM (Joey) Antonio at GM (Wesley) So ang ating inaasahan," added Asian Zone 3.3 FIDE President Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino Jr.

Meanwhile, GM Cao Sang of Vietnam defeated IM Bayarsaikhan Gundavaa of Mongolia to climb 3rd to 4th places with Antonio after tallying identical 5.0 points apiece.

Sharing the fifth to eighth places with 4.5 points each were defending champion GM Susanto Megaranto of Indonesia, GM Mark Paragua, GM John Paul Gomez and GM Darwin Laylo of the Philippines.

Megaranto split the point with Laylo, Paragua edged countryman GM Richard Bitoon and Gomez subdued FM Tran Tuan Minh of Vietnam.

 In the other matches, Michael Gotel dealt Rustum Tolentino and FM Mari Joseph Turqueza crushed Amgalanbaatar Ravdanlkhumbuu of Mongolia.

Top five boards in Monday's eight round, Antonio opposite So, Ngoc Truong Son versus Cao, Megaranto vs Paragua, Laylo vs Gomez and Dao vs Torre.

Meanwhile, the game between US based GM Rogelio Barcenilla Jr. against GM Dao Thien Hai of Vietnam, IM Nguyen Van Huy of Vietnam against FM Munkhgal Gombosuren of Mongolia, GM Eugene Torre against FM Haridas Pascua, IM Barlo Nadera against Nelson 'Elo' Mariano III and IM Farid Firman Syah of Indonesia against FM Paulo Bersamina ended into a fighting draw.

In the women's division, WGM Nguyen Thi Thanh An of Vietnam defeated Bernadette Galas of the Philippines after 34 moves of Sicilian defense, dragon variation to keep the lead with 6.0 points.

Galas who upset WGM Pham Le Thao Nguyen of Vietnam in the sixth round remained at four points, the same score of WIM Medina Warda Aulia and WIM Sihite Chelsie Monica of Indonesia, WGM Pham Le Thao Nguyen and WIM Hoang Thi Nhu Y of Vietnam, IM Munguntuul Batkhuyag of Mongolia.

WGM Hoang Thi Bao Tram and WIM Nguyen Thi Mai Hung of Vietnam, both tallied 4.5 points apiece for second and third places. -Marlon Bernardino-

Antonio settles for draw in TagaytayZonal chess

Tagaytay City---GRANDMASTER Rogelio 'Joey' Antonio Jr. settled for a truce with Vietnamese GM Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son in the 7th round of the Asian Zone 3.3 Chess Championship here at the Tagaytay International Convention Center late Sunday.

The 12-time national open champion Antonio battled Ngoc Truong Son to a draw in 38 moves of French defense, raised his total to 5.0 points.

GM Darwin Laylo also halved the point with defending champion GM Susanto Megaranto of Indonesia after 30 moves of Neo Gruenfeld defense.

Laylo and Megaranto, both tallied 4.5 points apiece, the same output of GM John Paul Gomez, who subdued FM Tran Tuan Minh of Vietnam and GM Mark Paragua, who brought downed countryman GM Richard Bitoon after 36 moves of Queens Indian defense.

In the women's division, WGM Nguyen Thi Thanh An of Vietnam defeated Bernadette Galas of the Philippines after 34 moves of Sicilian defense, dragon variation to keep the lead with 6.0 points.

Galas who upset WGM Pham Le Thao Nguyen of Vietnam in the sixth round remained at four points.

Tournament top seed GM Wesley So and IM Nguyen Duc Hoa of Vietnam still playing as of presstime.
-Marlon Bernardino-

Tagaytay Zonal Chess: Wesley So draws with Indon GM, stays in front, Antonio, Galas share limelight

Individual Standings after round 6:

(Open Division, Nine Round Swiss-System/ 42 player's field)

5.0 points---GM Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son (Vietnam), GM Wesley So (Philippines)

4.5 points---GM Rogelio Antonio Jr. (Philippines)

4.0 points---GM Susanto Megaranto (Indonesia), IM Bayarsaikhan Gundavaa (Mongolia), GM Darwin Laylo (Philippines), IM Nguyen Doc Hoa (Vietnam), GM Cao Sang (Vietnam)

3.5 points---GM Mark Paragua (Philippines), GM Eugene Torre (Philippines), FM Haridas Pascua (Philippines), GM Rogelio Barcenilla Jr. (Philippines), FM Gombosuren Munkhgal (Mongolia), FM Tran Tuan Minh (Vietnam),

GM Dao Thien Hai (Vietnam), GM John Paul Gomez (Philippines), GM Richard Bitoon (Philippines), IM Nguyen Van Huy (Vietnam)

(Women Division, Nine Round Swiss-System/ 16 player's field)

5.0 points---WGM Nguyen Thi Thanh An (Vietnam)

4.0 points---Bernadette Galas (Philippines), WIM Medina Warda Aulia (Indonesia), IM Munguntuul Batkhuyag (Mongolia)

3.5 points---WGM Hoang Thi Bao Tram (Vietnam), WIM Nguyen Thi Mai Hung (Vietnam)

Tagaytay City---Filipino grandmaster Wesley So battled defending champion GM Susanto Megaranto of Indonesia to a draw in the sixth round Saturday to stay on top along with second seed GM Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son of Vietnam of the Asian Zone 3.3 Chess Championship here at the Tagaytay International Convention Center.

The 19-year-old So, the country’s highest-ranked player and the tournament’s top seed with an Elo rating of 2682, took a break from his studies at Webster University in the United States to compete in the event hosted by Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino Jr. and the city council, split the point with Megaranto after 51 moves of Slav defense enabled Ngoc Truong Son to keep a share of the lead with a 28 moves demolition against GM Mark Paragua in their Gruenfeld skirmish.

" Mahirap pilitin. Talagang nauwi sa fighting draw eh," said the Bacoor, Cavite native So.

So and Ngoc Truong Son, both tallied five points apiece in the standings after 6 rounds in the nine round tournament offers two slots for this year's World Chess Cup in Tromso, Norway, organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) headed by it's Chairman/President Prospero 'Butch' Pichay Jr. and Secretary-General Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino Jr. GM Oliver Barbosa is the only Filipino currently guaranteed a seat in the Cup.

"I'm glad the GM Wesley So is on top together with other Filipino players. The time is ripe for Filipino chess players, through the NCFP, to assert ourselves as one of the, if not the strongest, chess power in Asia." said NCFP Committee chairman on Grassroots development and promotions Neri Javier Colmenares, also party-list representative of Bayan Muna.

12-time national open champion GM Rogelio 'Joey' Antonio Jr. defeated FM Gombosuren Munkhgal of Mongolia after 58 moves of Nimzo-Indian defense to climb at solo third position with 4.5 points.

Megaranto, meantime scored 4.0 points, the same outpot of IM Bayarsaikhan Gundavaa, GM Darwin Laylo of the Philippines, GM Cao Sang and IM Nguyen Duc Hoa of Vietnam.

Gundavaa nipped IM Barlo Nadera after 47 moves of French defense, Laylo halved the point with Duc Hoa after 43 moves of Gruenfeld defense while Cao edged FM Mari Joseph Turqueza after 19 moves of Queens Pawn Game.

Antonio will be up against Ngoc Truong Son in the seventh round scheduled late Sunday, So battles Duc Hoa, Laylo opposite Megaranto and Gundavaa versus Cao.

In the women's division, WGM Nguyen Thi Thanh An of Vietnam settled for a truce with WIM Medina Warda Aulia of Indonesia to keep the lead with 5.0 points. Her sixth round opponent is Bernadette Galas of the Philippines who upset WGM Pham Le Thao Nguyen of Vietnam to climb to a share of second to fourth places with four points.

Galas is tied with Medina and IM Munguntuul Batkhuyag of Mongolia.

The other Filipina campaigners were WIM Catherine Perena (3.0 points), WFM Rulp Ylem Jose (2.0 points), WFM Marie Antoinette San Diego (2.0 points) and Mary Grace Tambasen (half point).        -Marlon Bernardino-

FEU Chessers remains on top in UAAP Seniors Chess

REIGNING five-time champion Far Eastern University (FEU) defeated Ateneo de Manila University, 3.5-0.5,  to remain on top in the seniors’ division after round 5 of the 2012-2013 season of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) chess team championships in FEU Manila campus.

John Ranel Morazo, Sheider Nebato and Alfredo Rapanot toppled Louell Jude Que, Carl Angelo Perez and Hanz Martin Cheng on Board 2, 3 and 4, respectively.

Jan Emmanuel Garcia prevented a possible shut out loss for the Blue Eagles when he held into a draw with fellow International Master Richellieu Salcedo III in their top board encounter.

“We hope maganda ulit laruin ng mga bata” said FEU head coach GM Jayson Gonzales. Gonzales helped the Tamaraws snatch the overall championships in the12th Rakan Muda GACC (Grand ASEAN Chess Challenge) World Inter-Varsity Chess Championships 2007 held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Assistant coach are International Master (IM) Yves Ranola and National Master (NM) Alex Milagrosa.

In other results, University of Sto. Tomas edged University of the East, 2.5-1.5, National University blasted University of the Philippines, 4-0, and De La Salle University beat Adamson University, 3-1.

FEU Tamaraws tallied 14.5 points followed by UST Growling Tigers with 13.0 points.

Meanwhile, the Baby Falcons edged defending champion Baby Tamaraws, 3-1, to take the lead in the junior side with 13 points, 2 points ahead with the latter's 11 points. Jean Karen Enriquez and Jusmel Kristian Fronda defeated Jose Carlo Castro and Robert Paul Evangelista on Board 2 and 3. Daryl Unix Samantila split the point with Vince Angelo Medina on Board 1 while Crissa Canada drew with Romeo Canino on Board 4.    -Marlon Bernardino-

Round 5: Wesley So grabs solo lead in Asian Chess

Individual Standings after round 5:(Open Division, Nine Round Swiss-System/ 42 player's field)

4.5 points---GM Wesley So (Philippines)
4.0 points---GM Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son (Vietnam)
3.5 points---GM Susanto Megaranto (Indonesia), FM Gombosuren Munkhgal (Mongolia), GM Darwin Laylo (Philippines), GM Rogelio Antonio Jr. (Philippines), IM Nguyen Doc Hoa (Vietnam)
3.0 points---FM Haridas Pascua (Philippines), GM Rogelio Barcenilla Jr. (Philippines), IM Bayarsaikhan Gundavaa (Mongolia), FM Tran Tuan Minh (Vietnam), IM Barlo Nadera (Philippines),
GM John Paul Gomez (Philippines), GM Richard Bitoon (Philippines), FM Mari Joseph Turqueza (Philippines), GM Cao Sang (Vietnam), IM Nguyen Van Huy (Vietnam)
2.5 points---GM Eugene Torre (Philippines), Manny Yu (Philippines), Roger Sarip (Philippines), FM Paulo Bersamina (Philippines), GM Dao Thien Hai (Vietnam), Rustum Tolentino (Philippines)

Tagaytay City---Filipino teenage chess wonder Grandmaster (GM) Wesley So claimed solo leadership in the fifth round of the Asian Zone 3.3 Chess Championship here at the Tagaytay International Convention Center on Friday.

 So, the country’s highest-ranked player and the tournament’s top seed with an Elo rating of 2682, took a break from his studies at Webster University in the United States to compete in the event hosted by Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino Jr. and the city council, defeated  IM Bayarsaikhan Gundavaa of Mongolia (Elo 2522).

"Maganda 'yung coordination ng major pieces ko kaya napilit kong manalo sa laro against (Bayarsaikhan) Gundavaa," said So.

The 19-year-old Bacoor, Cavite native surged to 4.5 points in the standings after 5 rounds in the Nine Round Swiss-system event, organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) headed by it's Chairman/President Prospero 'Butch' Pichay Jr. and Secretary-General Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino Jr. which offers two (2) slot for this year's World Cup in Tromso, Norway.

Actually, So took the leadership board in the fifth round after ertswhile co-leader second seed GM Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son of Vietnam (Elo 2631) halved the point with GM Darwin Laylo (2491).

Ngoc Truong Son, the 2005 Manila Southeast Asian Games five gold medal winner is in the losing position but managed to draw with Marikina ace Laylo to improve his total to 4.0 points for solo second place.

"Slight advantage tayo sa middle game kaso mahirap pa din y'ung laro. Then sa endgame tabla na talaga eh," said Laylo.

"Pang siyam na laban na namin ni Ngoc Truong Son kala ko makaka iskor na ako kaso muling nauwi sa tabla," Laylo referring his nine (9) head to head match against Ngoc Truong Son and all ended into a fighting draw.

Sharing third to eighth places with 3.5 points each are defending champion GM Susanto Megaranto of Indonesia, FM Gombosuren Munkhgal of Mongolia, Laylo, 12-time national open champion GM Rogelio Antonio Jr. and IM Nguyen Doc Hoa of Vietnam.

Megaranto settled a draw with Duc Hoa, Munkhgal upset GM Dao Thien Hai of Vietnam and Antonio edged countryman FM Haridas Pascua.

In other matches saw, GM Mark Paragua bested countryman GM Eugene Torre, GM John Paul Gomez subdued FM Rudin Hamdani of Indonesia, US based GM Rogelio Barcenilla Jr. routed Ravdanlkhumbuu Amgalanbaatar of Mongolia, FM Mari Joseph Turqueza shocked IM Rolando Nolte.

In the distaff side, Nguyen Thi Thanh An of Vietnam defeated fellow Vietnamese Woman Grandmaster Nguyen Pham Le Thao to remained on top with 4.5 points in five outings.Bernadette Galas of the Philippines crushed WFM Ummi Fisabilillah of Indonesia to climbed at 4th to 7th place in the company of 3.0 pointers the likes of Pham, WGM    Hoang Thi Bao Tram and WIM Nguyen Thi Mai Hung of Vietnam.

Other Pinay bets WFM Rulp Ylem Jose, WFM Marie Antoinette San Diego and WIM Catherine Perena tallied 2.0 points each for 10th to 14th places while Mary Grace Tambasen at the cellar dwellar with no point.  -Marlon Bernardino

Wesley So settles for draw with Vietnamese Super GM in Tagaytay Zonal chess

Tagaytay City---Filipino Grandmaster Wesley So settled for a draw with second seed Vietnamese GM Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son (Elo 2631) in the fourth round of the Asian Zone 3.3 Chess Championship here at the Tagaytay International Convention Center onThursday.

The Bacoor, Cavite native So agreed to a draw after 44 moves of a Neo-Gruenfeld defense using the black pieces to tally 3.5 points in 4 rounds in the company of Ngoc Truong Son.

"Mabuti naka draw pa tayo. Masyadong mahirap ang laro saka slight advantage si Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son," said the 19-year-old So, the country’s highest-ranked player and the tournament’s top seed with an Elo rating of 2682, took a break from his studies at Webster University in the United States to compete in the event hosted by Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino Jr. and the city council.

Organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) headed by it's chairman/president Prospero 'Butch' Pichay Jr. and Secretary-General Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino Jr., the 42 player's field in the Open division of the Nine Round Swiss format offers two slot for this year's World Cup in Tromso, Norway. GM Oliver Barbosa is the only Filipino currently guaranteed a seat in the World Cup.

Meanwhile, the Filipino chess prodigy So is scheduled to handle the white pieces over to Mongolian GM-elect Bayarsaikhan Gundavaa in the fifth round, Friday's afternoon session while the Vietnamese ace goes up against another Filipino GM entry Darwin Laylo. Gundavaa split the point with Laylo after 30 moves of Gruenfeld defense.

"Go for win po tayo sa Mongolian na si Gundavaa lalu na't white pieces tayo,' added So, next tournament line-up is the tough Reykjavik Open chess nexth month.

Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino Jr., said So is expected to past Gundavaa " Inaasahan natin mananalo si Wesley kay Gundavaa. Limang beses na silang nagkatapat at apat dun ay nagwagi si Wesley at isa dun ay naka draw yung Mongolian GM-elect,".

Joining Gundavaa and Laylo in a bunch of 3.0 pointers were defending champion Indon GM Susanto Megaranto and Viet IM Nguyen Doc Hoa, who will face each other yesterday.

The Jakarta based Megaranto edged IM Rolando Nolte after 85 moves of Ruy Lopez Opening while Doc Hoa outclassed US based GM Rogelio 'Banjo' Barcenilla Jr. after 42 moves of King's Indian defense. NCFP Executive Director GM Jayson Gonzales id the Tournament Director while Fide delegate Casto Abundo is the Chief Arbiter.

-Marlon Bernardino

Tagaytay Zonal Chess: Wesley So beats Eugene Torre

Tagaytay City---THE COUNTRY's top rated Grandmaster Wesley So scored back-to-back win after beating GM Eugene Torre in the second round of the Asian Zone 3.3 Chess Championship late Wednesday here at the Tagaytay International Convention Center.

The 19-year-old So, the country’s highest-ranked player and the tournament’s top seed with an Elo rating of 2682, took a break from his studies at Webster University in the United States to compete in the event hosted by Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino Jr. and the city council prevailed with the black pieces after 38 moves of Torre Attack.

" Talagang pinilit kong manalo. Hirap ng posisyon buti napilit," said So.

The Nine Round Swiss-System Tournament organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) headed by it's chaiirman/president Prospero 'Butch' Pichay Jr. and Secretary-General Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino Jr.

The Bacoor, Cavite whiz kid So improved to a total of 2 points to share 1st to 5th places in the 42 player's field along with second seed GM Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son of Vietnam,  defending champion GM Susanto Megaranto of Indonesia, GM Mark Paragua and GM Darwin Laylo of the Philippines.

So beat GM Eugene Torre after 38 moves of Torre Attack, Ngoc Truong Son downed GM Banjo Barcenilla after 28 moves of King's Indian defense, Megaranto routed FM Haridas Pascua after 26 moves of Queens Indian defense, Paragua bested Ben Polao after 39 moves of Sicilian defense and Laylo dealt NM Nelson Villanueva after 33 moves of Sicilian defense.

Earlier, So toppled NM Rustum Tolentino in the opening round. 

In other matches saw, IM Barlo Nadera split the point with GM Joey Antonio Jr. after 40 moves of another Torre skirmish and IM Bayarsaikhan of Mongolia halved the point with compatriot FM Gombosuren Munkhgal after 41 moves of Queens Indian.

Chief Arbiter is Fide delegate Casto Abundo and Program Director is NCFP Executive Director GM Jayson Gonzales.

-Marlon Bernardino-