NEGRENSE chess National Master Rolando Andador of Talisay City humbled Melvin Salutan during the weekend to lead a big group of players with three points in the Victory Central Mall National Open Chess Championship at the Victory Central Mall in Caloocan city.

Andador, a former child prodigy who once ruled the now defunct Ryan Rupert Tan Memorial kiddies chess tournament sponsored by Land Transportation Office (LTO)-National Capital Region chief Ricardo “Cano”’ Tan, was bunched together with NM Efren Bagamasbad, who outclassed Richard de la Cruz; Davic Elorta, who bested Ranier Labay; Ronald Llavanes, who overpowered FM Leonardo Carlos; and Ali Branzuela, who crushed Efren Arguelles.

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Top seed Grandmaster Rogelio Antonio Jr. trounced NM Emmanuel Senador and GM John Paul Gomez whipped NM Edgardo Garma in a pair of keenly-awaited matches to forge an eight-way tie for the lead after the fourth round of the event.

Antonio, who was held to a draw by Rhobel Legaspi in the third round, regained his winning form to subdue Senador.

Gomez, who settled for a draw against Allan Macala in the second round, came back strong to defeat Garma and raise their score to 3.5 points in this nine-round tournament organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) and supported by Victory Central Mall and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).

Andador, who has three points out of a possible four, is on his first national competition after quite a while and is the lone Negrense entry in this prestigious NCFP event.