Chinese chessers rule Day 1 of 2nd PGMA Cup

Top seed Ni Hua of China won his first game against Fide master (FM) Roderick Nava in the 2nd President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (PGMA) Cup, which started on Thursday at the Duty Free Fiesta mall in Parañaque. Ni, who has an ELO of 2641, played almost flawlessly with the white pieces to beat Nava, a University Games gold medalist, in only 30 moves of a Sicilian Defense and take the headstart, according to a statement issued by tournament organizers. Nava, also a mainstay of UAAP champion Far Eastern University, resigned after losing two pawns in a complicated middle game. Three other Chinese campaigners, Weiqi Zhou, Yu Lie, and WIM Huang Qian also defeated their Filipino rivals to join the march of the favorites. Weiqi outclassed Fernando Pialan, Yu downed Marc Christian Nazario, and Huang dumped Noris Michael Diez. Grandmaster-candidate Jayson Gonzales carried the day for the Filipinos with a 34-move triumph over Zhang Xiaowen of China. Gonzales, who's making his first international appearance after one year, sacrificed a knight on the 20th move and forced his Chinese opponent to give up a rook to avoid mate. Cebu sensation Kim Steven Yap, an international master-candidate, also provided a pleasant surprise for the home team by holding fifth seed GM Nguyen Anh Dung of Vietnam to a draw after 20 moves of a King's Indian Defense. Yap, who earned an IM norm at the sixth Asian Individual Chess Championship held in Mandaue City last September, beat the highly-rated Vietnamese champion (ELO 2537) despite playing the black pieces. Comebacking IM Chito Garma whipped Victoria Chan of Singapore, FM Fernie Donguines crushed McDominique Lagula, and Robert Suelo Jr. humbled Sander Severino in other early matches. GM-candidate Oliver Dimakiling and Rustum Tolentino drew their match in an all-Filipino showdown. - GMANews.TV