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Thursday, September 07, 2006
Bitoon closer to earning slot in Asiad team
International Masters Richard Bitoon and Darwin Laylo shared the lead as the RP Chess Selection Tournament for the Doha, Qatar Asian Games entered round eight, Tuesday.
Bitoon and Laylo, both RP Chess Olympiads, drew each other in the fourth round of the selections held at the SM Mall of Asia in Manila and stayed in strong contention for the right to carry the country's colors for the December games.
Bitoon, a Cebuano, defeated Christopher Castellano, blowing him away after a solid-tactical encounter with the black pieces, in round six.
He then eased out National Masters Emmanuel Senador and his Accelerated Dragon of the Siclian Defense in round seven, before proceeding to his duel with John Paul Gomez of De La Salle University, whom he also defeated.
"The game was very complicated and I found out that the position demanded that I take a risk," Bitoon told Sun.Star Cebu.
Mandaue City's IM Barlo Nadera, a late entry to the selections, remains in contention at the top boards with 6.5 points alongside with Grandmaster Nelson Mariano II, IM Oliver Dimakiling of Davao City and NM Rolando Nolte.
In today's top three board parings in round nine, IM Laylo of Manila will take on GM Mariano at board one, NM Nolte will duel with Bitoon at board two and IM Dimakiling faces Nadera at board three.
Mariano is the only grandmaster in the tournament.
GM Mark Paragua did not show up for the selections while Eugene Torre and Joey Antonio, for their part, previously announced their intent not to participate in the games. (JAF)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (September 7, 2006 issue)
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