TORRE, ANTONIO WINS IN FIFTH ROUND OF PICHAY CHESS

Individual Standings after round 5: (60 players)

4.0 points— GM Eugene Torre (Philippines), GM Rogelio Antonio Jr. (Philippines), GM Darwin Laylo (Philippines), GM Mikhael Michedlishvili (Georgia), GM Merab Gagunashvili (Georgia), GM Ehsan Ghaem Maghami (Iran), GM Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son (Vietnam)

3.5 points—GM Mark Paragua (Philippines), GM John Paul Gomez (Philippines), GM Dao Thien Hai (Vietnam), GM Anton Filippov (Uzbekistan), GM Das Neelotpal (India), GM Zhang Zhong (Singapore)

THE Philippines’ long-time top woodpushers Grandmasters Eugene Torre and Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr. hurdle their fifth round assignments to create a seven-way tie for first place in the on-going prestigious 5th Prospero A. Pichay, Jr. Cup Chess Championship being held at the Local Water Utilities Administration Bldg in Katipunan Road Diliman, Quezon City.

According to Fide arbiter candidate and National Master Edmundo Gatus of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP), Torre, beat Indian GM Abhijeet Gupta after 42 moves of Trompovsky Opening, while Antonio defeated Armenian GM Tigran Kotanjian after 42 moves of Sicilian Defense, Alapin variation late Sunday.

“Maganda ang nilalaro ngayon ni Eugene (GM Torre), nakuha na niya na talaga ang momentum, hope mapanatili niya,” said Fide arbiter candidate and National Master Edmundo Gatus of the NCFP, in an interview yesterday.

Torre on his part: “I just play my very best, for flag and country,”

“Si Joey (GM Antonio) muli niyang pinakita ang pagiging beterano niyang player, y’ung maganda niyang style na go for win, nandun y’ung strong determination n’ya,” explained Gatus, team mate of Antonio during their College days in the University of Manila.

Antonio added: “Crucial ‘yung laro bukas (late Monday) against Michedlishvili (GM Mikhael),”

With the win, Torre and Antonio, raise their total 4.0 points in five outings, the same output of compatriot GM Darwin Laylo, top seed GM Mikhael Michedlishvili and GM Merab Gagunashvili of Georgia, GM Ehsan Ghaem Maghami of Iran and GM Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son of Vietnam.

In the sixth round late Monday; Michedlishvili will handle the white pieces against Antonio on board 1 while another Filipino entry GM John Paul Gomez will employ the white pieces against Torre on board 4.

Other matches saw, Maghami made a quick draw over Michedlishvili in just 14 moves of Slav Defense, Laylo drew with 2009 PGMA cup champion Uzbek GM Anton Filippov after 44 moves of Nimzo-Indian Defense, and Ngoc Truong Son subdued Armenian GM Pyotr Kostenko after 46 moves of Reti Opening.

Still in contention of this nine round Swiss-system tournament organized by Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr., president of the NCFP with 3.5 points each are Gomez, Filippov, GM Mark Paragua of the Philippines, GM Dao Thien Hai of Vietnam, GM Das Neelotpal of India and GM Zhang Zhong of Singapore.

Paragua, the 2003 Southeast Asian Games most bemedalled athlete hammered NM Alcon John Datu after 87 moves of Alekhine Defense, Gomez bested NM Alex Milagrosa after 28 moves of French Defense, Dao halved the point with Zhang after 30 moves of Slav Defense, and Neelotpal drew with Chinese GM Li Shilong after 32 moves of Slav Defense.

BY: MARLON BERNARDINO.