AFTER getting the much needed rest Sunday, GM Rogelio Antonio Jr. and RP whiz kid GM candidate Wesley So will spearhead the Filipino campaign when the fourth round resumes Monday in the first President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Cup International Open and Chess Challenge at the Duty Free Fiesta Mall in Paranaque City.
The 42-year-old Antonio, who hails from Calapan, Oriental Mindoro, gets his first opportunity against a foreign rival when he takes on fifth seed GM Varuzhan Akobian of the United States.
Antonio, an enlisted personnel of the Philippine Army, racked up three straight victories over WIM Beverly Mendoza of Cabanatuan City, Singapore based FM Julio Sadorra, and NM Emmanuel Senador of Iloilo to remain as the only Filipino player still in the lead pack with a perfect score of three points. Also in the lead pack are top seed GM Alexander Onischuk of the United States, No.2 GM Zhang Pengxiang of China, No.5 GM Akobian of United States, No.6 GM Vladimir Belov of Russia and No. 8 GM Alexander Mikhalevski of Israel.
He will face the 23-year-old Akobian in the next round, tormentor of WNM Catherine Perena, and IM Yves Ranola, both from Caloocan City, and GM-candidate Ronald Dableo of Trabajo, Sampaloc, Manila.
The 13-year-old So from Bacoor, Cavite, on the other hand, also takes his first foreign counterpart using the black pieces against No. 3 GM Ni Hua of China.
Fresh from obtaining his first GM results in Bad Wiessee, Germany early this month, So upset GM Mark Paragua in the second round of the morning session last Saturday then held into a draw with GM Eugene Torre in the third round.
