FILIPINO IM PACIENCIA VIRTUAL CHAMP IN SINGAPORE CHESS

MANILA, PHILIPPINES—IT’S in the bag for Filipino International Master Enrique Paciencia.

Paciencia settled for back-to-back wins with FM Daniel Howard Fernandez of Singapore and Thakur Akash of India to virtually capture the coveted title with only one round left in the Commonwealth Open dubbed as Singapore International Chess Festival 2009 at the Singapore Scouts Association in Singapore, yesterday.

The Tacloban, Leyte native Paciencia, former stalwart of Adamson University raise his total 7.0 points on six wins and two draws in eight outings, 1.5 points head against Indian IM Ashwin Jayaram and Aussie master Max Illingworthon who notch 5.5 points each.

In the Singapore Challengers section, Jedara Docena toppled compatriot Mari Joseph Turqueza in the seventh then halved the point with countryman Paolo Bersamina in the eight to grab the solo leadership board with 7.0 points going the final canto. Bersamina gain a share of 2^nd place along with Jung Yung Hoon of Korea after tallying identical 6.5 points apiece.

Turqueza, meantime split the point with Aussie Steven O’Reilly in the eight for his 6.0 points, the same output of Gokhale Raghunandan V and Rezon Yanuar of India and O’Reilly.

In the ninth round, Docena up against Jung on Board 1; Turqueza collides on Bersamina on Board 2 and Gokhale will meet Rezon on Board 3. The Filipino chess campaign here is being supported by NCFP president Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr.

In London, Fil-Aussie Woman International Master Arianne Bo Caoili defeated Maria Ikonomopoulou of Greece in the seventh round for her 6.0 points and fortified her bids going to the last two round of Women’s Invitational section dubbed as London Chess Classic event in Olympia Conference Center, Kensington in London, yesterday.

The 10 player’s field round-robin format is sanctioned by the World Chess Federation (FIDE).

BY: MARLON BERNARDINO.