More chess...

from Sun.Star Cebu

NATIONAL Master Emmanuel Senador came up with a big game in the penultimate round to grab the over-all leadership from International Master Chito Garma in the Congressman Prospero “Butch” Pichay Sinulog Open Chess tournament yesterday at the Aznar Coliseum.

Senador tripped fellow NM Mirabeau Maga in 26 moves of a Reti opening to collect seven points after eight rounds.

IM Garma, who led after the sixth round, absorbed an upset from FIDE Master Anthony Makinano, who jumped to take a share of second place with 6.5 points.

Makinano stopped Garma in 39 moves of a King’s Indian defense.

IM Barlo Nadera and NM Efren Bagamasbad also took shares of the second place after inking contrasting victories.

Nadera downed fellow IM Ronald Bancod in 43 moves of a London defense, while NM Bagamasbad crushed fellow NM Elias Lao Jr. in 31 moves of a King’s Indian defense.

Third spot

IM Richard Bitoon, Garma, NM Rustum Tolentino, Rhobel Legaspi, Ravel Canlas and Kim Steven Yap share the third spot with six points each.

Bitoon defeated Richard Natividad in 29 moves of a Bird’s opening, Tolentino stopped Mardonio Fuentes in 48 moves of a Sicilian defense, while Legaspi downed Jesus Bitoon in 39 moves of a Nimzo Indian defense.

Canlas halted Rex Androe Cabuncal in 36 moves of an English open, while Yap lambasted Carlo Magno Rosaupan in 38 moves of a Sicilian defense.

Eight woodpushers are also locked in a tie at fourth with 5.5 points each. They are IM Bancod, NM Maga, NM Wilfredo Neri, Francisco Abugho, Christopher Castellano, Edmundo Gatus, Mario Mangubat and Voltaire Sevillano.

The champion will get P50,000, while the first runner-up will pocket P30,000 and the second and third runners-up will take home P20,000 and P10,000, respectively.

The tournament, which is rated and sanctioned by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines, is a nine-round straight Swiss System. (JGC)