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Thursday, July 01, 2004
Torre pockets title
By Mike T. Limpag
Sun.Star Correspondent
GRANDMASTER Eugene Torre showed his real caliber after seizing a clutch ninth-round win over International Master (IM) Richard Bitoon to capture the 2004 Gov. Remedios Petilla Invitational Chess Championship in Tacloban City yesterday.
The 52-year-old Torre, the No.1 seed in the tourney, showed his mastery of the rook and pawn against the bishop-knight and pawn endgame over the third-seeded Bitoon to score a win in 52 moves via the Ruy Lopez Opening.
His win gave him 8.0 points to top the nine-round event and take the P50,000 winner’s purse, while Bitoon, co-champion last year, dropped to fifth place with six others.
Pressure
“I only needed to avoid being pressured by the clock because this is a battle of nerves,” said Torre, who recently won the Leuven, Belgium International Chess Open.
Meanwhile, eighth seed National Master (NM) Roberto Suelo Jr., a former national junior champ, capped his strong performance with a 35-move win over fourth seed Fide Master (FM) Fernie Donguines of a Pirc Defense.
Suelo finished second in the tournament with 7.5 points to bag P30,000.
IM Barlo Nadera, on the other hand, disposed off 25th seed Henry Roger Lopez of Davao City after 31 moves of the King’s Indian Defense, while 67th seed Richard Natividad upset ninth seed NM Mirabeau Maga of Quezon City after 43 moves of an Alekhine Defense.
Nadera and Natividad, both Cebuanos, tallied an identical 7.0 points to finish tied at third. Both received P12,000, but Nadera brought home the trophy after winning the tiebreak.
Fifth seed FM Oliver Dimakiling, meantime, made short work of 30th seed Francisco Abugho in 23 moves of a Torre Attack to finish with 6.5 points, tied with 29th seed Mario Rebano and 38th seed Felix Corate.
The trio received P2,330 each and earned National Master norms for their impressive performances.
(July 1, 2004 issue)
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