So rips Paragua in 'Battle of GMs', Tagaytay leads 2011 Aklan chess tourney

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

Grandmaster Wesley So of Tagaytay City (left) shows his fine form with the mastery of open board by defeating Grandmaster Mark Paragua (right) of Misamis Oriental in the Battle of GMs / PHOTO BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

KALIBO, Aklan - Grandmaster Wesley So carried his Tagaytay team to a 3-1 victory against tough Misamis Oriental in the third round of the 2011 Inter-Province Chess Team Championship on Saturday afternoon.

Filipino chess prodigy So, the highest rated player in the country with an ELO rating of 2667, outduelled his fellow GM Mark Paragua (ELO 2547) in 30 moves. So handled the white pieces in the most-widely followed match so far in the five-day chess competition.

Paragua, the 1998 Disneyland France World Rapid Under-14 champ, occupies the No. 3 spot in the Philippines-World Chess Federation (Fide) rankings while So is ranked at No. 4 in the Top 20 World Junior Boys.

With the crucial win, Tagaytay improved its record 11 points to remain on top of the 28-team nine round Swiss system event organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) in coordination with the provincial government of Aklan.

On board two, Allan Cantonjos of Tagaytay (ELO 2191) also outclassed Jhonel Balquin while Ivan Gil Biag beat Christian Arroyo (ELO 2267) of Misamis Oriental in board three. Richilieu Salcedo (ELO 2222), who played solid in board four, crushed Garry Garcia of Tagaytay for the lone point of Misamis Oriental.

Top seed Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA)-A pulled off 3-1 victories over DAR Quezon City. Jayson Salubre of LWUA-A (ELO 2282) trounced Sherwin Tiu in board three. Mari Joseph Turqueza (ELO 2181) dumped Jerry Areque (ELO 2086) in board four.

Grandmaster John Paul Gomez forced to draw with DAR Quezon City's board one player Emmanuel Senador while Lennon Hart Salgados (ELO 2114) also halved the point with Ted Ian Montoyo (ELO 2297) of LWUA-A in board two.

In other matches, second seed Cabuyao (Laguna) swept Capiz while Iloilo Club 64 Inc. also routed ASU-CIT Aklan in two shutout wins in the second day.

Accenture Chess Enthusiasts Club B stopped the women's squad of Aklan Team E, 3-1. Aklan's Mira Mirano upset her opponent Rhodmie Sagum in board one, however, her three compatriots failed to score against Jose Ramon Lopez, Isidro Dela Cruz III and Ruelito Ong.

Palawan team managed to settle for a draw with Dep Ed A of Fide Master Jony Habla. South Cotabato also halved the points with Peter I. Kimpo Chess Team Aklan.

La Paz (Iloilo) Chess Center escaped a narrow 2.5-1.5 victory against LWUA C led by Jedara Docena (ELO 2035), Christy Lamiel Bernales (ELO 2015), Fide Master Cherry Ann Mejia (ELO 1912) and Mikee Charlene Suede (ELO 1902).

LWUA B of Fide Master Paulo Bersamina dropped a close 2.5-1.5 decision against unheralded Bacolod Negros Chess Team. Gov. Bombit Adiong Lanao del Sur also demolished Team C Aklan, 3.5-0.5. Mark Templonuevo halved the point with Roger Sarip in the board one.

Other results: Team F Aklan-Dep Ed B (2-2), Makati City-Team B Aklan (3.5-0.5), Bulacan BYCF-Passi City (2-2), Accenture Chess Enthusiasts Club A-Antique (1-3)