ASIAN INDOOR GAMES: ANTONIO, PARAGUA WINS IN RAPID CHESS IN ROUND 7

GM Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr. and GM Mark Paragua of the Philippines won their seventh round assignment, both using the advantageous white pieces in the on-going 3^rd Asian Indoor Games in Hanoi, Vietnam, yesterday.

The Sta.Mesa,Manila native Antonio, a sergeant at the HSSG of the Philippine Army under Commanding Lt. Gen. Delfin Bangit, who fell to Iranian GM Ehsan Ghaem Maghami in the sixth then bounce back in contention after beating IM Sami Khader of Jordan in the seventh while the Tondo, Manila born Paragua who bowed to Vietnamese GM Le Quang Liem in the sixth then drubbed FM Teerapabpaisit Wisuwat of Thailand in the seventh.

Antonio raised his total 4.5 points while Paragua notch 4.0 points.

Earlier, Antonio drew with IM Ahmad Azizjawad Obada of Irag in the fourth then nipped FM Husse Ali of Iraq in the fifth while Paragua yielded to GM Murtas Kazhgaleyev of Kazakhstan in the fourth then nipped Russell M K A of Sri Lanka in the fifth.

In the eight round; Antonio goes up against Vietnamese GM Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son while Paragua opposite FM Husse Ali.

Meanwhile, Chinese GM Wang Hao outclassed Indian GM Pentala Harikrishna in the sixth then split the point with Indian GM Krishnan Sasikiran in the seventh for his 6.0 points and remains on top.

In the distaff side, WFM Catherine Perena and WFM Shercila Cua lost their respective matches.

Perena from Caloocan City who upset WGM Shadi Paridar of Iran in the sixth but fell to Chinese GM Zhao Xue in the seventh as well Cua from Quezon City who crushed WIM Ismael Ibrahim Delbak of Iraq in the sixth but lost to Uzbek WIM Nafisa  Muminova in the seventh. The duo was stuck at 4.0 points.

Chinese GM Hou Yifan, who beat Muminova in the sixth and drew with Qatari GM Zu Chen in the seventh for her 6.5 points in seven games and remains on top.

The RP chess team Vietnam campaign is supported by NCFP president Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr., and secretary-generalAbraham “Bambol” Tolentino Jr., and PSC chairman Harry Angping.

BY: MARLON BERNARDINO.