Friday, October 31, 2008 Verganio, Balquin share early lead
VETERAN campaigner Jokorn Maestrado Thursday made sure the youngest participant on the field would learn a lesson or two from him.
The so-called Alamid of Cagayan de Oro Chess Club relied again on his resourcefulness in defending a difficult position en route to inflicting the first loss of the 15-year-old Salgados in the 10-man round robin chess championship here at the A. Sports firm along Osmeña Street.
"He's on the attacking side of the black pieces. But I'm more careful than him. Puro hard labor akong pagdaug. At least, akong na-prove nga maayo ko modula," said Maestrado who started the two-day event with a miniature loss to youthful rival Alfredo Rapanot Jr.
National Master Roger Verganio, who fought to a draw with Salgados in the 4th round, outplayed Leo Dinglasan to share the lead with Johnnel Balquin going to the last four rounds of the active (30 minutes time control) chess competition dubbed as 2008 Danny Velez Cup.
Balquin, who narrowly escaped with a draw at the hands of Jan Vincent Cayaba, fashioned out an instructive endgame win over Rapanot.
"Underdog kaayo sa ako ni nga linya. Pero challenger ko sa akong next round (5th) kay iya kong gipilde sa Iligan," said the flamboyant Balquin, still locking horns with Salgados as of Thursday.
Bryan Jose, the 2005 National Shell junior champion, struggled all day long, losing to Balquin and Rapanot in succession apart from being held to a draw by Dinglasan.
The round-robin affair has been organized by Metro Cagayan de Oro Chess Club to serve as tune-up bout for Salgados, Northern Mindanao's lone qualifier to this year's National Shell Youth Active junior championship on Nov. 7-10 in Metro Manila.
