Tuesday, September 25, 2007 Three masters, same time
FILIPINO grandmasters (GM) Eugene Torre, Rogelio Antonio Jr. and Mark Paragua remained in the hunt for the lead even as Indonesian GM Susanto Megaranto sustained his grip on the leader board going into the halfway mark of the 6th Asian Individual Chess Championship at the Cebu International Convention Center in Mandaue City.
Megaranto found IM G.N. Gopal of India a hard nut to crack as they agreed to a draw in 55 moves of a Sicilian defense. Megaranto has five points while Gopal is in second with 4.5 points.
Torre whipped Korean GM Alexey Kim in 49 moves of a four-knight game en route to a share of third place with four points.
Antonio just could not find the winning line against Uzbekhistan Anton Filippov in 83 moves of another four-knight game. Antonio and Filippov also share third place with four markers.
Paragua also had his hands full against Kim Steven Yap. They agreed to draw their match after 28 moves of a Benoni since neither Paragua nor Yap could find the advantage to win their game. Paragua and Yap have 3.5 points apiece.
Cebuano IM Barlo Nadera finally got another win at the expense of fellow campaigner Efren Bagamasbad, while FM Anthony Makinano also won as he got the better of IM Emmanuel Senador. Nadera won in 53 moves of a Nimzo-Indian, while Makinano won in 43 moves of a Kings gambit. Nadera has 2.5 points while Makinano has two points.
IM Richard Bitoon salvaged a draw versus fellow IM Oliver Dimakiling in 42 moves of a Queen’s gambit, while Voltaire Sevillano was stopped by Indian IM Prasad Arun in 40 moves of a Sicilian defense. Bitoon, Dimakiling and Prasad have 2.5 points while Sevillano has two points.
IM Darwin Laylo got clobbered by Indian GM Parimarjan Negi in 40 moves of a Queen’s gambit while IM Wesley So held veteran campaigner GM Utut Adianto of Indonesia in 51 moves of a Bishop game. Laylo slid to fourth place with 3.5 points. So and Adianto remained in fourth also with 3.5 points.
In other matches, Chinese GMs Pengxiang Zhang and Jun Zhao agreed to halve their point in 56 moves of a Sicilian to remain in second place with four points. GM Hao Wang drew his game versus Indian GM Abhijit Kunte, GM Jianchao Zhou drew his match with Indian GM Das Neelotpal, GM Mohammad Al-Modiahki drew with Bangladesh IM Enamul Hossain, Iranian GM Maghami Ehsan Ghaem drew with GM Shaoteng Yu, GM chanda Sandipan drew with GM Amir Bagheri of Iran, Vietnamese GMs Hoang Thong Tu and Thien Hai Dao also split their game. Women’s GM Yang Shen drew with compatriot Chao Li. GM Jun Xu drew with Indian G. Rohit.
Seventh round action starts at 3 p.m. today. (JGC)
