CEBU CITY - Davao City's Fide Master Austin Jacob Literatus, seeded 19th, shocked second-ranked grand master (GM) Rogelio "Joey" Antonio, Jr., to score the biggest upset on Day 2 of the Philippine National Games chess open standard event at the Robinson's Galleria here Monday, May 21, 2018.
Literatus, who hails from Toril and is a varsity scholar at the National University, defeated 13-time Philippine Open champion Antonio of Calapan, Oriental Mindoro in 51 moves of an Alekhine Defense in their second round encounter.
"Lipay, syempre, upset. Gidula lang nako although duna syay mga threats gi-atubang ra nako (I'm happy to score an upset win. I just played and faced his threats)," the 21-year-old Dabawenyo said in an interview with Sun.Star Davao after the match.
He, thus, shared the first to 13th place with two-pointers top-seed GM John Paul Gomez of Albay, fellow Davao City IMs Oliver Dimakiling and John Marvin Miciano who grabbed the first three spots. Davao's NM Alexander Lupian was also unbeaten after two rounds.
Literatus said that he will play five more rounds and admitted that he can't be complacent even after the stunning Antonio.
"Play for win, kung naay draw kay mga kusog man sila. Mas giganahan ko mudula, mas magpursige pako (If I have to settle for draw because the field has strong players. I'm more inspired to play and I will play harder)," he said, adding that he hopes to place in the top three and gain rating.
With NU, he had won three team golds, two individual golds and three silvers in the UAAP.
Literatus defeated Nino Bondoc of Zamboanga in the opener Sunday.
Dimakiling subdued NM Joey Albert Florendo of Zamboanga City after 34 moves of Torre Attack while Miciano survived past Filipino and United States chess master Almario Marlon Bernardino Jr. of Barangay, Malamig, Mandaluyong City after 80 moves of Pirc defense.