Friday, September 21, 2007 Nouri bungles 1st round match in Asian chessfest
NEGRENSE International Master (IM) Hamed Nouri of Escalante City bowed to GM Chanda Sandipan of India Wednesday as hostilities in the Asian Individual Chess Championship reeled off at the Cebu International Convention Center in Mandaue City, Cebu.
The former West Negros College varsity standout who hit the headlines last year when he became the only Filipino entry to finish in the top 10 of the 1st President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Asian Invitational Chess Challenge lost in the first round along with teammates Voltaire Sevillano (who bowed to GM Chakkrvarthy of India); Rostum Tolentino (who lost to Indian GM Das Neelotpai); and Efren Bagasmad (who was defeated by Iranian GM Amir Bagheri).
Filipino IMs Ronald Bancod and Oliver Dimakiling, however, also stumbled on the first hurdle.
Bancod, a member of the national team seeing action in the Asian Indoor Games next month in Macau, lost to reigning Malaysian Open titlist Li Chao of China in 34 moves of a Torre attack.
Dimakiling, meanwhile, lost to lowly FM Hussein H.A. of Iraq in 38 moves of a Trompovski Opening. IMs Barlo Nadera and Richard Bitoon secured draws against GMs Dao Thein Hai and Nguyen Ahn Dung of Vietnam.
But the Philippines’ big three -- GMs Eugene Torre, Joey Antonio and Mark Paragua -- got off to a big start polishing off their respective opponents.
Torre defeated FIDE Master Himayoon Toufighi of Iran in 26 moves of a Queen’s Gambit Declined; Antonio beat FIDE Master Goh Weiming of Singapore in 51 moves of a King’s Indian Defense; while Paragua walloped FIDE Master Ahmad Samhouri of Jordan in 43 moves of a Center Game. (HCV)
