GM So and GM Antonio drew in their head to head game in the 2009 Phoenix Petroleum-Dapitan City “Battle of GMs” chess championship. The game was nullified because it was less than 30 moves even though it was a legitimate 3-time repetition. The game had to be replayed today and this time it was a draw in 31 moves.
Here are the standings after 9 rounds:
| Rk. | Name | FED | Rtg | Pts. | ||||
| 1 | GM | SO Wesley | PHI | 2627 | 7,5 | |||
| 2 | GM | ANTONIO Rogelio Jr | PHI | 2519 | 6,0 | |||
| 3 | GM | GOMEZ John Paul | PHI | 2539 | 5,5 | |||
| 4 | IM | SADORRA Julio Catalino | PHI | 2445 | 5,0 | |||
| 5 | GM | TORRE Eugenio | PHI | 2560 | 5,0 | |||
| 6 | IM | BITOON Richard | PHI | 2473 | 4,5 | |||
| 7 | GM | LAYLO Darwin | PHI | 2504 | 4,5 | |||
| 8 | GM | PARAGUA Mark | PHI | 2537 | 4,5 | |||
| 9 | IM | NOLTE Rolando | PHI | 2488 | 3,5 | |||
| 10 | GM | GONZALES Jayson | PHI | 2468 | 3,5 | |||
| 11 | GM | VILLAMAYOR Buenaventura | PHI | 2471 | 2,5 | |||
| 12 | IM | DABLEO Ronald | PHI | 2432 | 2,0 |
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Really, they nullified the result despite the game ending in a threefold repetition? Sometimes games simply end that way.
Seems pretty unfair to me. When did they replay the game – the same day or when all the other participants had a rest day?
As much as I support the “no early draw” regulations – the way THIS was handled is clearly also not the way forward…
Another bonehead move by chess officials. I guess USCF officials aren’t the stupid ones after all. Goichberg, Berry and Bauer now have good companies.
I think drawing games should be up to the players. There should not be interference from any officials and always at the discretion of the players.
Don’t worry president Obama will make them play a 40 move game!.
Somebody has to explain to that dim-witted chess president what the 30-move rule is all about. Else, he will make the same idiotic decision again someday. Worse, players might be forced to make bad moves just to avoid a legit draw by repetition before move 30. That will really destroy some games. Perhaps best is to kick out chess officials who don’t understand chess at all.