Courtesy of Manila Bulletin:
Chinese GM wins GMA Cup title
WHILE THE Filipinos struggled hard to keep local pride alive, GM Zhang Pengxiang of China emerged as the biggest winner in the inaugural President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Cup International Open and Chess Challenge before a big crowd at the Duty Free Fiesta Mall in Parañaque City.
Pengxiang, ranked fourth overall in China and No. 78 in the world with an ELO of 2636, defeated compatriot GM Zhang Zhong in 54 moves of a Ruy Lopez to finish with a nine-round total of 7.5 points out of a possible nine.
The 26-year-old Chinese GM brought home the coveted GMA Cup and the top prize of ,000 (roughly R300,000) for his triumph.
Top seed GM Alexander Onischuk of the USA subdued Asian Games-bound IM Ronald Dableo of the Philippines in 66 moves of the King’s Indian Defense while GM Victor Mikhalevski overpowered little-known NM Hamed Nouri in 32 moves of a Benoni to share second place with seven points.
Onischuk and Mikhalevski split the combined ,000 and ,000 cash prizes for second and third placers in this week-long tournament organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) in cooperation with Duty Free Philippines.
Three other foreign players – GM Vladimir Akobian of the United States and GM Ni Hua and IM Wang Rui of China – finished in a three-way tie for fourth with 6.5 points.
Nouri, the 28-year-old pride of Escalante City, finished as the highest-placed Filipino player in eighth place behind Zhong with six points.
Known in the local chess circle as "Pinoy Kasparov" for his physical resemblance with the former Russian world chess champion, Nouri actually finished in a heavy 10-way tie with Zhong, GM Vladimir Belov of Russia and compatriots IM Darwin Laylo, IM Yves Ranola, Dableo, IM Jayson Gonzales, NM Emmanuel Senador, FM Julio Sadorra and IM Ronald Bancod.
GM candidate Wesley So missed the winning combination against Belov, allowing the sixth-ranked Russian player to escape with the win in 37 moves of the Sicilian.
The loss put an abrupt end to the Filipino’s hopes for his second GM norm in as many weeks.
The 13-year-old campaigner form Bacoor, Cavite, who earned his first GM norm in the 10 th Bayer Open in Bad Wiessee, Germany early this month, needed a win over Belov to earn his second GM norm.
"Sayang pero na-missed ko yung right combination laban kay Belov. Baka nanalo sana," said So, a freshman student at St. Francis of Assisi.
Surprisingly, none of the country’s five GMs landed in the winner’s circle.
The country’s highest-ranked player, GM Mark Paragua, fell to IM Wang Rui in 40 moves of the Slav in the ninth and final round to slip into a tie for 22nd spot with only five points.
GM Nelson Mariano II also bowed to IM Ronald Bancod in 38 moves of the Sicilian while GM Buenaventura "Bong" Villamayor was held to a draw by No. 58 NM Efren Bagamasbad to settle for a tie for 32nd with 4.5 points.
Asia’s first GM Eugene Torre lost by default to Cebu-based NM Anthony Makinano and finished in 44th place with only four points.
And GM Rogelio Antonio Jr., the country’s leading scorer in the Turin Olympiad held early this year, finished with only three points after withdrawing in the sixth round due to health reasons.
Courtesy of NCFP Official Website :
Pengxiang Captures Crown; Nouri is Top Filipino Player
Final standings:7.5 points -- Z. Pengxiang (China)7 -- A. Onischuk (USA), V. Mikhalevski (Israel)6.5 -- V. Akobian (USA), N. Hua (China), W. Rui (China)6 -- Z. Zhong (China), H. Nouri (RP), V. Belov (Russia), D. Laylo (RP), Y. Ranola (RP), R. Dableo (RP), J. Gonzales (RP), E. Senador (RP), J. Sadorra (RP), R. Bancod (RP).5.5 – W. Zhou (China), O. Dimakiling (RP), R. Nolte (RP), C. Garma (RP), J. Gomez (RP).5 – S. Severino (RP), W. So (RP), M. Paragua (RP), T. Vakhidov (Uzbekistan), O. Barbosa (RP), J. Mayor (RP), N. Mariano (RP), A. Makinano (RP), R. Tolentino (RP), R. Bitoon (RP).
WHILE the Filipinos struggled hard to keep local pride alive, GM Zhang Pengxiang of China emerged as the biggest winner in the inaugural President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Cup International Open and Chess Challenge before a big crowd at the Duty Free Fiesta Mall in Paranaque.
Pengxiang, ranked fourth overall in China and No. 78 in the world with an ELO of 2636, defeated compatriot GM Zhang Zhong in 54 moves of the Ruy Lopez to finish with a nine-round total of 7.5 points out of a possible nine.
The 26-year old Chinese GM brought home the coveted GMA Cup and the top prize of US $6,000 (P300,000) for his triumph.
Top seed GM Alexander Onischuk of the United States subdued Asian Games-bound IM Ronald Dableo of the Philippines in 66 moevs of the King’s Indian Defense, while GM Victor Mikhalevski overpowered little-known NM Hamed Nouri in 32 moves of the Benoni to share second to third places with seven points.
Onischuk and Mikhalevski split the combined US $4,000 and US $3,000 cash prizes for second and third placers in this week-long tournament organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) in cooperation with Duty Free Philippines.
Three other foreign players – GM Vladimir Akobian of the United States and GM Ni Hua and IM Wang Rui of China – finished in a three-way tie for fourth to sixth places with 6.5 points.
Nouri, the 28-year old pride of Escalante City, finsiehd as the highest-placed Filipino player in eighth place behind Zhong with six points.
Known in the local chess circle as "Pinoy Kasparov" for his physical resemblance with the former Russian world chess champion, Nouri actually finished in a heavy 10-way tie with Zhong, GM Vladimir Belov of Russia and compatriots IM Darwin Laylo, IM Yves Ranola, Dableo , IM Jayson Gonzales, NM Emmanuel Senador, FM Julio Sadorra and IM Ronald Bancod.
GM-candidate Wesley So missed the winning combination against Belov, allowing the sixth-ranked Russian player to escape with the win in 37 moves of the Sicilian.
The loss put an abrupt end to the Filipino’s hopes for his second GM norm in as many weeks.
The 13-year old campaigner form Bacoor, Caviote, who earned his first GM norm in the 10 th Bayer Open in Bad Wiessee, Germany early this month, needed a win over Belov to earn his second GM norm.
"Sayang pero na-missed ko yung right combination laban kay Belov. Baka nanalo sana," said So , a freshman student at St. Francis of Assisi.
Surprisingly, none of the country’s five GMs landed in the winner’s circle.
The country’s highest-ranked player, GM Mark Paragua, fell to IM Wang Rui in 40 moves of the Slav in the ninth and final round to slip into a tie for 22 nd to 31st places with only five points.
GM Nelson Mariano II also bowed to IM Ronald Bancod in 38 moves of the Sicilian while GM Buenaventura “Bong” Villamayor was held to a draw by No. 58 NM Efren Bagamasbad to settle for a tie for 32nd to 43rd places with 4.5 points.
Asia’s first GM Eugene Torre lost by default to Cebu-based NM Anthony Makinano and finished in 44 th places with only four points.
And GM Rogelio Antonio Jr., the country’s leading scorer in the Turin Olympiad held early this year, finished with only three points after withdrawing in the sixth round due to health reasons.
The Singapore-based Sadorra provided one of the few bright spots for the Filipinos when he outclassed IM Tahir Vakhidov of Uzbekistan in 37 moves of the Sicilian.
The 20-year old Sadorra, whose family migrated to Singapore five years ago, played decisively against Vakhidov to post one of the day’s inspiring triumphs and give the Filipinos something to cheer about.
Gonzales outwitted NM Oliver Barbosa, Senador defeated IM Richard Bitoon, Bancod downed Mariano and Ranola won by default over paraplegic Sander Severino to join Sadorra in the money list with six points.
WIM Beverly Mendoza halved the point with FM Roderick Nava to emerge as the highest-placed female player with 4.5 points.
WNM Enerose Magno won over Merben Roque to tie Mendoza with 4.5 points. Magno, however, settled for second place after the tiebreak.
WFM Sherrie Joy Lomibao finished third with four points.
A big disappointment was Severino, the multiple gold medalist in the recent Para Games held early this year.
Severino, the 21-year old native of Silay City who earned a lot of respect by beating Torre in the seventh round, failed to arrive in time and defaulted his match to Laylo.
Pengxiang Grabs Solo Chess Lead; Nouri, Dableo Stay Alive
Standings after eight rounds:1. Z. Pengxiang (China) 6.5 points; 2-6 A. Onischuk (US), V. Mikhalevski (Israel), Z. Zhong (China), R. Dableo (RP), H. Nouri (RP) 6; 7-11 C. Garma (RP), V. Akobian (US), N. Hua (China), W. Rui (China), Z.Zhou (China) 5.5; 12-24 W. So (RP), M. Paragua (RP), N. Mariano (RP), D. Laylo (RP), V. Belov (Russia), T. Vakhidov (Uzbekistan), O. Barbosa (RP) , Y. Ranola (RP) , J. Gonzales (RP) , J. Sadorra (RP), R. Bitoon (RP) , R. Bancod (RP), E. Senador (RP), R. Tolentino (RP) 5.
Ninth-round pairings: (white player first ) Z. Zhong (China) vs Z. Pengxiang (China) ; R. Dableo (RP) vs. A. Onischuk (US) ; V. Mikhalevski (Israel) vs. H. Nouri (RP) ; W. Zhou (China) vs. N. Hua (China) ; V. Akobian (US) vs. C. Garma (RP); W. Rui (China) vs. M. Paragua (RP) ; W. So (RP) vs. V. Belov (Russia); J. Sadorra (RP) vs. T. Vakhidov (Uzbekistan); S. Severino (RP) vs. D. Laylo (RP) ; R. Bitoon (RP) vs. E. Senador (RP) ; R. Bancod (RP) vs. N. Mariano (RP) ; J. Gonzales (RP) vs. O. Barbosa (RP) ; Y. Ranola (RP) vs. R. Tolentino (RP) ; O. Dimakiling (RP) vs. W. Li (China); J. de Ramos (RP) vs. R. Nolte RP).
LITTLE-known Hamed Nouri of the Philippines authored the biggest upset win in the tournament by beating GM Vladimir Belov of Russia in their keenly-watched encounter, even as second GM Zhang Pengxiang of China grabbed the solo lead with a masterful win over GM Varuzhan Akobian of United States in the eighth and penultimate round of the first President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Cup International Open and Chess Challenge at the Duty Free Fiesta Mall in Paranaque.
Nouri, who made his presence felt with back-to-back victories over GMs Rogelio Antonio Jr. and Buenaventura “Bong” Villamayor in the sixth and seventh rounds, claimed the scalp of sixth-ranked Belov to become one of two Filipinos still in contention for the top prize of US $ 6,000 (P300,000).
Nouri, known n the local chess circle as the "Pinoy Kasparov" for his resemblance with the former world champion from Russia.
"Swerte. Gagawin ko ang lahat ng aking makakaya para makatapos ng maganda dito," said Nouri, a former collegiate standout form West Negros College whose campaign is being supported by Mayor Santiago Barceloan and Bro. Rolly Dizon of La Salle.
The win put the 28-year old pride of Escalante, Negros Occidental in a tie for second to sixth places with compatriot and Asian Games-bound IM Ronald Dableo, top seed GM Alexander Onischuk of the United States, GM Victor Mikhalevski of Israel, GMs Ni Hau and Zhang Zhong and IM Wang Rui of China and Akobian.
Dableo, who is seeking the second of three GM norms, vented his ire on former national junior campaigner Oliver Barbosa in 31 moves of the Slav only a few hours after allowing GM NI Hau of Chan to escape with a draw in their seventh-round encounter earlier in the day.
Pengxiang, the fourth highest-rated player in China with an ELO of 2636, outduelled Akobian to assume the solo lead with 6.5 points out of a possible eight in the prestigious nine-round tournament organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) under Surigao del Sur Rep. Prospero Pichay Jr.
Onischuk, who ruled the US Championship last March, and Mikhalevski drew their match at the top board.
Hua and Zhong also halved the point in an all-Chinese match.
Rui, ranked 13 th overall, stopped the giant-killing run of Para Games gold medalist and paraplegic Sander Severino in 39 moves of the Slav.
Severino, who rose to prominence by winning five gold medals in the Para Games held last year, failed to handle the pressure this time and yielded to Rui in 39 moves of yet another Slav encounter.
The 21-year-old native of Silay City earlier stole the limelight by racking up three wins, including an ego-boosting seventh-round triumph over Asia’s fist GM Eugene Torre.
Veteran campaigner Chito Garma also barged into the elite circle by humbling fellow IM Oliver Dimakiling to forge a five-way tie for seventh to 11 th places with 4.5 points.
With Garma are Akobian and Chinese players Hua, Rui and Zhong.
Teen sensation Wesley So and IM Darwin Laylo also drew their match to lead a big group of players with five points.
With So and Laylo are GMs Mark Paragua and Nelson Mariano II, Barbosa, Severino, IMs Jayson Gonzales, Richard Bitoon Yves Ranola and Ronald Bancod, NM Emmanuel Senador, Rustum Tolentino and Julio Sadorra.
Paragua drew with Ranola, Mariano bested NM Mirabeau Maga, Goznales halved the poitnwith IM Tahir Vakhidov of Uzbekistan, Bitoon overpowered Dr. Jenny Mayor, Bancod toppled GM Buenaventura “Bong” Villamayor, Senador subdued FM Roderick Nava and Tolentio outsteadied NM Petronio Roca. Sadorra also stole the limelight by dealing the 55-year odl Torre his second setback for the day. In other eight-round results, NM Adrian Pacis defeated Im Barlo Nadera, John Paul Gomez whipped Kamil Rzoska of Poland, Wang Li overwhelmed Rhoebl Legaspi, Anthony Makinano trounced WFM Liu Yang of China, Efren Bagamasbad outplayed WFM Sherrie Joy Lomibao, Catherine Perena downed Ramon Manon-og, Alfredo Paez stopped Richard de la Cruz, Rolando Yutuc repulsed Nelson Villanueva Jr. , Ibaryu Adante ripped Quirino Sagario and Dandel Fernandez dumped Loreshyl Cuizon, and Kimberly Jane Cunanan surprised Jedara Docena.
In the Challenger Division, Arlan Cabe overwhelmed erstwhile solo leader Allan Cantonjos and Edsel Montoya downed Raymond Salcedo to share the lead and boost their chances for the top prize of US $1,000.
Both Cabe and Montoya now have seven points out of a possible eight.
Cantonjos remained in third place with 6.5 points.
Rodolfo Diaz whipped De Leon Marohom Jr., Ali Branzuela bested Christian Arroyo, Noel de la Cruz stopped Marlon Ricafort to share fourth to sixth places with six points.
Verth Alora outduelled Paolo Florendo and Ric Portogalera dumped Rich Salcedo to lead a big group of 5.5 pointers.
Other eight-round Chalenger winners were Robert Arellano, Chris Castellano, Allan Macala, Chris Rodriguez, Andrew Vasquez, Allan Sasot, Christopher Castellano,. , Glicerio Pardillo Jr., Ed Agagon, Garry Garcia, Carmelita Abanes, Josephine Berago, Marion Ilagan, Marc Nazario, Leo Ricana, Franz Barreto, Robert Francsico and Kaye Anne Legaspi.
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