PGMA CHESS CUP: DABLEO, MENG KONG SHARE CHESS LEAD IN ROUND 3

Individual Standings after round 3: (56 players)

3.0 points— IM Ronald Dableo (Philippines), GM Wong Meng Kong (Singapore)

2.5 points— IM Richard Bitoon (Philippines), GM Mikhael Michedlishvili (Georgia), GM Anton Filippov (Uzbekistan), GM Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son (Vietnam), GM Annuar Ismagambetov (Kazakhstan), GM Pyotr Kostenko (Kazakhstan)

2.0 points—GM Mark Paragua (Philippines), GM Rogelio Antonio Jr. (Philippines), GM Buenaventura Villamayor (Philippines), GM Darwin Laylo (Philippines), GM John Paul Gomez (Philippines), IM Barlo Nadera (Philippines), IM Oliver Dimakiling (Philippines), IM Emmanuel Senador (Philippines), NM Edgardo Garma (Philippines), GM Dao Thien Hai (Vietnam), GM Tigran Kotanjian (Armenia), GM Merab Gagunashvili (Georgia), GM Ehsan Ghaem Maghami (Philippines), IM Tirto (Indonesia)

1.5 points—GM Eugene Torre (Philippines), GM Jayson Gonzales (Philippines), FM Leonardo Carlos (Philippines), NM Deniel Causo (Philippines), NM Edgar Reggie Olay (Philippines), NM Ali Branzuela (Philippines), NM Nicomedes Alisangco (Philippines), NM David Elorta (Philippines), NM Edmundo Legaspi (Philippines), John Ranel Morazo (Philippines), GM Getha Gopal Nayanan (India), GM Das Neelotpal (India)

GM elect-Ronald Dableo (2417) subdued compatriot GM John Paul Gomez (2521) to share the lead with Singaporean GM Wong Meng Kong (2403), who brought downed GM Mark Paragua (2501) after the third round of 4th President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Cup International Chess Championship Friday night at the Duty Free Fiestamall in Paranaque City.

The no. 23 seed Dableo, playing the black pieces bested No. 14 seed Gomez after 58 moves of Modern Defense while No. 25 seed Meng Kong, handling the white side stopped the winning run of No. 15 seed Paragua 43 moves of Sicilian Defense.

Both Dableo and Meng Kong, tallied 3.0 points apiece in three outings and will collide each other for the leadership board on Saturday’s fourth round. The Trabajo, Sampaloc, Manila resident Dableo, a former top player of San Sebastian College will employ the white pieces in their top board encounter.

A GM wannabe, Dableo needs to raise his rating points to 2500 to be finally considered a full pledge grandmaster.

No. 17 seed IM Richard Bitoon (2490), kept his GM title norm alive by crushing No.48 seed NM Edmundo Legaspi (2158) after 41 moves of Sicilian Defense to scored 2.5 points and climbed into a share of 3^rd to 8^th placers that include top seed GM Mikhael Michedlishvili (2613/Georgia), GM Anton Filippov (2595/Uzbekistan), GM Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son (2589/Vietnam), GM Annuar Ismagambetov (2528/Kazakhstan) and GM Pyotr Kostenko (2491/Kazakhstan).

In other matches saw, Michedlishvili nipped IM Barlo Nadera (2400/Philippines) after 38 moves of Slav Defense; Filippov outplayed GM Das Neelotpal (2471/India) after 48 moves of Queen’s Indian Defense; Ngoc Truong Son beat GM Jayson Gonzales (2457/Philippines) after 53 moves of Queen’s Pawn Game; Ismagambetov waylaid NM David Elorta (2364/Philippines) after 82 moves of Reti Opening; and Kostenko dealt John Ranel Morazo (2172/Philippines) after 58 moves of Sicilian Defense.

GM Buenaventura “Bong” Villamayor (2426/Philippines) and GM Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr. (2557/Philippines) settled a draw after 31 moves of London System Opening, as well IM Oliver Dimakiling (2434/Philippines) and GM Ehsan Ghaem Maghami (2579/Iran), ended their game into a draw after 54 moves of Queen’s Indian Defense and
IM Tirto (2407/ Indonesia) split the point with GM Dao Thien Hai (2542/Vietnam) after 30 moves of Slav Defense.

Defending champion, Eugene Torre (2535) settled for his three straight draws against his much lower rated opponents. Torre, Asia’s First GM drew with NM Deniel Causo (2334) after 28 moves of Scotch Opening using the black pieces.

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

BY: MARLON BERNARDINO