By Lily O. Ramos
MANILA, (PNA)—Grandmaster GM John Paul Gomez stayed on top of the ongoing Grandsmasters’ Chess Championships with a total of 13.5 points while GM Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr (10.5 points)remained in second place Wednesday evening as they agreed to halve the point after 21 moves of Caro-Kann defense at the Philippine Sports Commission Conference Room, Administration Bldg., Vito Cruz.
“A draw is alright so that I can preserve my strength for the next crucial rounds since it’s still a long way to go,” said Gomez.
GM Richard Bitoon beat defending champion GM Mark Paragua in 37 moves of Sicilian defense for nine points via three wins and two losses.
“I got mental blocked, I did not notice I was going to lose as I focused in scoring a mate,” said the Tondo-born Paragua.
Others with nine points were US based GM Rogelio “Banjo” Barcenilla, GM Oliver Barbosa and IM Joel Pimentel.
Barcenilla drew with Pimentel in 84 moves of Queen’s Gambit Accepted while Barbosa defeated IM Emmanuel Senador with 64 moves of Queen’s Pawn Game.
The game between FM Jony Habla and IM Richilieu Salcedo III , GM Eugene Torre against National Master Narquinden Reyes and FM Roderick Nava opposite GM Darwin Laylo ended in a draw.
In the women’s division, Janelle Mae Frayna battled Jean Karen Enriquez to a draw in 79 moves of English Opening to assume solo lead after the fifth round while Woman International Master Beverly Mendoza failed to keep pace by losing to WIM Bernadette Galas of 38 moves of French defense.
Frayna improved to 13.5 points while Mendoza was stuck at 12.0 points.
The tournament is utilizing the Torre-Pichay scoring system, a method formulated by Torre and National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) president/chairman Prospero “Butch” Pichay, Jr. where a win is equivalent to three points, a draw is 1.5 points, a loss is zero, and a stalemate is 2.0 for the last player to make a move and 1.0 to the player who can no longer make a move.
Last year’s champion WIM Catherine Perena outclassed WFM Jedara Docena, Lucelle Bermundo subdued Ynna Sophia Canape, WFM Rulp Ylem Jose smashed Villa Mae Cabrera, Arvie Lozano crushed Gladys Hazelle Romero while WFM Cherry Ann Mejia split the point with WFM Shania Mae Mendoza in other results.
The tournament was organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP), headed by chairman/president Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr. and secretary-general Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino Jr. and supported by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC)chairman Ricardo “Richie” Garcia and the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) headed by president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco.
NCFP executive director GM Jayson Gonzales is the tournament director, while IA Gene Poliarco is the chief arbiter.