GM Gonzales shares lead in PSC rapid chess

GM Gonzales shares lead in PSC rapid chess
abs-cbnNEWS.com 02/28/2010 5:26 PM

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine’s top scorer in the recent Turin World Chess Olympiad Grandmaster (GM) Jayson Gonzales flashed his old deadly form as he defeated International Master Richard Bitoon in the “All in Sports” Rapid Open Chess Tournament Sunday at the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) canteen in Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila.

Gonzales’s win created a four-way tie for first place in the sixth round of the chess tourney.

Gonzales, head coach of Far Eastern University men’s and women’s team who won the CHED National Finals and 72nd UAAP chess team tournament, collected a total 5.5 points, the same output of GMs Mark Paragua, Buenaventura “Bong” Villamayor, and former Philippine junior champion National Master (NM) Rolando Andador.

Paragua split a point with Villamayor while Andador stopped the cinderella run of fellow NM Ronald Llavanes. Llavanes, the top player of Philippine Air Force chess team, defeated top seed Super GM Wesley So in the fourth then upset former Asian zonal champion GM candidate Ronald Dableo.

With the loss, Llavanes remains at 5 points in a tie with So, GM Darwin Laylo, IM Chito Garma, FMs Adrian Rose Pacis, David Elorta, Haridas Pascua, Deniel Causo and Roderick Nava and journeyman Roel Abelgas.

Reigning Asian indoor games blitz champion and 12-time National Open ruler GM Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr., meanwhile, toppled Ryan Dungca to raise his total to 4.5 points in the 9-round Swiss-system tournament. The tourney is hosted by PSC chairman Harry Angping and supported by National Chess Federation of the Philippines president and chairman Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr with the champion getting the lion share of P30,000 plus the prestigious championships’ trophy.

Marlon Bernardino
as of 02/28/2010 5:26 PM