PARAGUA, DABLEO, THREE OTHERS SHARE THE LEAD IN PGMA CHESS CUP

Individual standings after round 2:

2.0 points— GM Mark Paragua (2501/PHI), GM John Paul Gomez (2521/PHI), IM Ronald Dableo (2417/PHI), IM Barlo Nadera (2400/PHI), GM Wong Meng Kong (2403/SIN)
FILIPINO GM Mark Paragua (2501) turned back Indian GM Getha Gopal Nayanan (2598) after 50 moves of Sicilian Defense to scored his second win in as many rounds and create a six-way tie for first in the on-going 4th President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Cup International Chess Championship yesterday at the Duty Free Fiestamall in Paranaque City.

“Sana mahawakan ko ang momentum,” said the 25 year old Paragua, who brought downed journeyman Rainier Labay in 29 moves of King’s Indian Defense in the opening round the other day.
However, compatriots IMs Ronald Dableo (2417) and Barlo Nadera (2400) scored biggest upset so far.
Dableo, who needed to increase his Elo 2417 to 2500 to obtain his GM title status shocked Georgian GM Merab Gagunashvili (2564) after 93 moves of Birds Opening while Nadera stuns World Chess Cup bound GM Darwin Laylo (2537) 63 moves after Queen’s Pawn Game.

GM John Paul Gomez (2521) won his match against IM Emmanuel Senador (2367) after 41moves of French Defense while Singaporean GM Wong Meng Kong (2403) defeated Armenian GM Tigran Kotanjian (2553) after 34 moves of Sicilian Defense.

Sharing the limelight is untitled John Ranel Morazo who upset Chinese GM Li Shilong after 43 moves of King’s Indian Defense to lead the group of 1.5 pointers that includes top seed Georgian GM Mikhal Mchedlishvili  (2613), Uzbek GM Anton Filipov, Kazaks GM Pyotr Kostenko at Anuar Ismagambetov, Viet GMs Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son and Dao Thien Hai, Indian GM Das Neeoltpal, Filipino GMs Joey Antonio, Bong Villamayor, and Jayson Gonzales, IMs Richard Bitoon and Oliver Dimakiling, NMs David Elorta and Edmundo Legaspi.

In the group of 1.5 pointers, Legaspi, director of the organizing group National Chess Federation of the Philippines stole the thunder by crushing IM Rolando Nolte after 40 moves of Sicilian Defense.
Defending PGMA Cup champion Eugene Torre, Asia’s First GM, notch his second straight draw this time against NM Allan Macala after 46 moves of Pirc Defense. “Malalakas talaga ang mga local player natin, kailangan lamang sila bigyan ng break,” said Torre, whos first match to top PNP player NM Ali Branzuela also ended into a fighting draw.

The nine-round Swiss tournament offers $6,000 to the champion in the $40,000 total pot FIDE event.

BY: MARLON BERNARDINO