|
Saturday, September 18, 2004
Paragua reclaims lead with wins
FILIPINO International Master Mark Paragua got back on the right track after an eighth-round loss as he took the lead with two wins in the 2nd Alushta GM Tournament in Ukraine.
The twin wins put him at solo lead with seven points after 10 rounds, a full point ahead of second placer Roman Ovetchkin.
In the ninth round, he scalped six-time Turkmenistan champion IM Orazly Annageldyev and then defeated IM Alexsander Obukhov after 29 moves of a Reti Opening in the 10th.
Paragua’s performance mirrored his effort in the 1st Alushta, where he clustered victories in the ninth and 10th after losing in the eighth round.
“I’m not thinking of playing safe anymore because I have to win every game,” said Paragua, who honed his skills in the highly-successful Milo Checkmate program.
Aside from completing the GM requirements, Paragua is also vying to become the first Filipino to win two straight closed tournaments in a former Soviet Union republic.
The former chess prodigy recently ruled the 1st Alushta GMT last week, accumulating 11.5 points out of 15 while bagging his second GM norm along the way.
With the third GM in the 16-man field – Russia’s Veniamen Shtyrenkov – waiting Paragua in the 14th round, the Filipino can grab the final norm he needs to become a full-pledged GM by scoring 3.5 points in the next four rounds.
If he manages only three points, he will be in a must-win situation against 14-year-old Ukrainian GM-elect Yuriy Kuzubov in the 15th and final round.
Meanwhile, another Asian entry – IM Das Neelotpal of India – is optimistic the young and talented Filipino whiz kid can achieve his third and final GM norm.
“Mark has strong chance to get his GM norm here. He is fighting in every game and does not fear anybody,” said the 22-year-old Neelotpal. (ML)
(September 18, 2004 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
