Friday, January 19, 2007 Garma leads tough pack in Sinulog tilt
INTERNATIONAL Master (IM) Chito Garma leads five other rated woodpushers with three points after three rounds of action in the Rep. Prospero “Butch” Pechay Sinulog Open Chess Tournament at the Aznar Coliseum yesterday.
The other leaders with three points are National Masters (NM) Mirabeau Maga, Levi Mercado and Emmanuel Senador. Also joining them are locals Peterson Sia and Ravel Canlas.
IM Garma outgunned Christopher Castellano in 45 moves of a Modern defense. NM Maga toppled Ferdinand Leysa in 35 moves of a Sicilian defense, while NM Mercado drubbed Carlo Magno Rosaupan in 46 moves of a Reti Opening.
14 in second
NM Senador outlasted Eden Diano in 67 moves of a Sicilian defense. Sia defeated Edmundo Gatus in 28 moves of a Sicilian defense, while Canlas stopped NM Elias Lao Jr. in 44 moves of a Sicilian.
Fourteen chessers are in second place with 2.5 points apiece. These are IM’s Barlo Nadera and Ronald Bancod, NM’s Wilfredo Neri, Efren Baga-masbad, Rustum Tolentino, and Eduardo Agagon. Carlos Moreno III, Rex Androe Cabuncal, Mark Mangubat, Mario Ma-ngubat, Ibaryu Adante, Dr. Jenny Mayor, Kim Steven Yap and Rhodel Legaspi.
Split
IM Nadera split his game with Moreno in 26 moves of a Queen’s gambit accepted, while IM Bancod stopped Mark Alunan in 33 moves of a Reti Opening.
NM Neri halved his match with Legaspi in 25 moves of a Sicilian, while NM Bagamasbad hurdled Glicerio Pardillo Jr. NM Tolentino crushed Erwin Ababat in 50 moves of a Ruy Lopez. NM Agagon settled for a draw against Mayor. Cabuncal split his game with Mario Mangubat, while Mark Mangubat defeated NM Cyril Ortega. Adante drew his game with Yap.
IM Richard Bitoon is grouped in third place with two points. With him are NMs Quirino Sagario, Lao Jr, Ernesto Fernandez and FIDE Master Anthony Makinano. (JGC)
