Grandmasters bow to untitled foes

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines - The country's elite chess players had already felt the strength of unheralded rivals from the provinces on the P300,000-rich 5th Prospero B. Pichay Sr. Memorial chess tournament in Cantilan, Surigao del Norte. And there's a gigantic reason to appreciate the king-size effort made by the players outside from Manila. Already, wins were registered against the top-three seeded men on the field. Mark Paragua, RP's only one-time super Grandmaster, got whitewashed by the physically handicap Henry Lopez of Panabo, Davao del Norte in the second round. Rogelio Antonio Jr., the other GM on the field, got ambushed by another untitled foe Jimmy Dano -- also from Davao region -- in the third round. Barlo Nadera, the lone International Master in the weeklong event, also failed to dodge the upset axe when National Master Abdullah Bin Nawahah Unding of Zamboanga defeated him in Round 5. Even former Olympiad, NM Alex Lupian of Davao City went down in defeat at the hands of Marawi City pride, Ben Polao whom national arbiter Jun Cuizon described as the amiable provincial board member of Lanao del Sur. Former Cantilan Open champion, NM Ernesto Fernandez of Pagadian was not also fortunate. Paired against the youthful Davawenyo in La Salle varsity mainstay Jason Salubre, the veteran campaigner Fernandez saw his winning streak upended in the fifth round. Completing the list of upset run, Lyndon Lumancas handed fellow Cagayanon NM Rustum Tolentino a shocking defeat as early in the second round. Occupying the top-five position going into the sixth round are NM Rolando Nolte, Salubre and NM Unding with 4.5 points each. NM Reggie Olay and Ferdinand Leysa have 4 points to show in the company of GM Antonio, Hamed Nouri, GM Paragua, NM Lupian and Marlon Pedarse. - Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro