Pinoy GMs Paragua, Dableo make presence felt

Filipino players made their presence felt in the fourth President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Cup international chess championship with GM Mark Paragua and GM-elect Ronald Dableo leading the charge with impressive victories over their higher-rated foreign rivals at the Duty Free Fiesta Mall in Parañaque City. Paragua, ever so eager to regain his billing as the country’s top player, pulled the rug from under second seed GM Gopal Nayanan of India in the biggest upset win so far in the tough, six-day tournament featuring 56 players. Dableo, who nailed his third and last GM norm during the Kuala Lumpur Open last month, shocked sixth seed GM Merab Gagunashvili of Georgia to boost his chances for the title and the top prize of US$6,000.

Seeded only 15th with an ELO of 2501, Paragua, also whipped Rainier Labay, while No. 23 Dableo (2417), humbled Angel Cordero for a leading 2 points apiece. Dresden Olympiad sensation GM John Paul Gomez trounced Conrado Diaz in the first round and subdued Emmanuel Senador in the second, while IM Barlo Nadera outclassed Lyndon Lumancas and upset No. 10 seed GM Darwin Laylo to join Paragua and Dableo in the lead pack. No. 25 seed GM Meng Kong Wong of Singapore emerged as the only foreign player with perfect score of two points after beating Danilo Jorda and No. 8 GM Tigran Kotanjian of Armenia. Seventeen players, led by top seed GM Mikhal Mchedlishvili of Georgia and World Cup-bound GM Rogelio Antonio, Jr., stayed within striking distance with 1.5 points out of a possible two. Mchedlishvili, the highest-rated player here with an ELO of 2613, was held to a draw by David Eorta in the first round but bounced back to beat Reggie Olay in the second. Antonio, the highest-rated Filipino player in the absence of GM Wesley So, split the point with Olay in the first round before crushing FM Haridas Pascua the following round. The other notable players in the 17-player second group were GM Anton Fillipov of Uzbekistan, who dumped Edgardo Garma in the opening round and drew with No. 16 GM Pyotr Kostenko of Kazkahstan; No. 4 GM Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son of Vietnam, who beat FM Leonardo Carlos and drew with GM Buenaventura “Bong" Villamayor; GM Ehsan Ghaemmaghami of Iran, who overwhelmed Daniel Causo and drew with Tirto of Indonesia; and GM Jayson Gonzales, who split the point with Albert Rivera and won over Rolando Andador. Defending champion GM Eugene Torre had a slow start, drawing with compatriots No. 38 Ali Branzuela and No. 40 Allan Macala. Mchedlishvili and Duty Free deputy general manager Lorenzo Formoso made the ceremonial moves during the short but colorful opening ceremony while NCFP president Prospero Pichay formally declared the tournament open. A one-minute silent prayer for former chess writers Odette Alcantara, Roger Flores and Boy Manuel was also observed during the opening rites. - GMANews.TV