Antonio leads opening day winners

Antonio leads opening day winners of Victory chess tilt
07/03/2009 06:09 PM

MANILA, Philippines – Grandmaster Rogelio Antonio Jr. defeated unknown Raul Cariño to begin his quest for a podium finish in the Victory Central Open Chess championship Friday at the Victory Central Mall in Caloocan City.

Inspired by his return in the country’s list of top players, Antonio took the victory after 42 moves of the Caro Kann to lead the assault of the favorites in the nine-round, P300,000 tournament.

Antonio, now the third leading Filipino player in the FIDE quarterly ratings, led the march of the seasoned campaigners including second seeded GM John Paul Gomez, third ranked IM Richard Bitoon, No.4 GM Darwin Laylo, fifth seeded GM Markk Paragua, sixth ranked IM Rolando Nolte, No. 7 GM Jayson Gonzales, eighth seed IM Barlo Nadera, ninth ranked NM Edgardo Garma and No. 10 IM Emmanuel Senador.

Gomez, who must double his efforts to maintain his FIDE ranking, defeated Robert Cacho while Bitoon outmaneuvered Efren Arguelles.

Laylo downed Jimson Bitoon, Paragua defeated Ritchie Evangelista, Nolte pounced on Jaime Alviz, Gonzales creamed Quirino Sagario, Nadera outclassed Juancho Caunte, Garma defeated Paulo Bersamina and Senador downed Joseph Tomas.

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