Nonles, 2 others share early lead
-A A +ASunday, July 15, 2012
THE fall of early favorites saw Ronald Nonles and the little-known Salim Panaraag and Benoni Wabe sharing the lead after Round 4 of the ongoing 1st Queen Angela Banaag Chess Classic 2012 here at the Inilog Grill Bar and Restaurant.
With the youthful Aljie Cantonjos losing a minor piece in their midgame squabble, Nonles cleverly maneuvered his King into a safe square before simplifying matters to nail the full point.
Nonles now has four points in the company of Panaraag and Wabe going into the last three rounds of the rapid event for players with 1900 below NCFP rating.
"Actually, dili perfect akong gihimo nga strategy kay naay Queen-to-Queen nga tira wala niya nakita drawish unta," Nonles said after surviving a panic time scramble.
Grade schooler Othniel Adrian Yulo paced a big group of three pointers. However, Yulo's stunning conquest of an older foe--who has a respectable NCFP rating--was enough to create a noise in the playing venue.
"Dili na gyod makumpyansaan ang mga bata karong panahona," said Malaybalay Chess Club president Fundador Binahon after his piece sacrifice apparently backfired in the face of Yulo's resolute defense.
Last year's Palaro campaigner Bhea Buen Ecal racked up two straight wins to share the lead with Angela Lapore, Noel Francis Labis and Don Gabrielle Banaag in the 11-under category.
A three-way logjam among the hot-starting Jokorn Maestrado, National Master Levi Mercado and Silverio Abasolo ensued in the blitz challenge for the city's top-10 invited Class players.
Each of them collected four points after Round 6 of the nine-round blitz showdown with 3-minute (2 seconds increment) time control.
"Simple raman ang technique ni Alamid. Kill the enemy lang," Maestrado told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro, though he's been complaining on the other side.
"After nag-solo lead ko sa Round 5, mora'g naa silay sabot-sabot nga tinalawan," said the conqueror of Silverio Abasolo, Jaime Frias, Rodolfo Emnace and Jake Gonzales.
Crowd favorite Johnnel Balquin virtually kissed his title-bid goodbye after earning just a draw in the first two rounds.
Published in the Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro newspaper on July 16, 2012.
Sports
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