Thursday, December 20, 2007 IM Bitoon earns P30K in Rose Christmas Open
INTERNATIONAL Master Richard Bitoon got himself a nice fat Christmas Bonus after pocketing the top prize in the Rose Pharmacy Chess Open at SM City Cebu yesterday afternoon.
Bitoon defeated Nativiad to pocket the P30,000 top prize.
In the first finals game, Natividad, using English, upset Bitoon in 59 moves.
However, Bitoon bounced back and needed just 39 moves of a Nimzo Indian to force the two 10-minute games extension.
Natividad’s first win in their finals turned out to be his last as Bitoon edged him out in the first extension, while the two agreed to a draw in the second.
On his way to the finals, Bitoon defeated Kim Steven Yap in the semifinals the other day in a very pulsating game that was decided on a tie break point.
Bitoon had to dig deep after his two games against Yap ended in draws, forcing another extension.
After taking the first game, Bitoon lost the second before taking the decider to take the first finals seat.
On the other hand, Richard Natividad also needed a 10-minute extension against Johnnel Balquin.
Balquin, using Queens Indian, defeated Natividad in 71 moves but Natividad, using Slav, just needed 38 moves to even the match.
In the first 10-minute extension, Natividad got the lead before the two split their second match.
Natividad, who took the P15,000 runnerup, joins Bitton in the Fide-rated Sinulog Chess Open set early next year. (NSM)
