Chess: Torre, Antonio chalk up wins at Pichay Cup

Pichay Cup/Round 5

Standings after five rounds:(RP unless stated othewise)

4 points – M. Mchedlishvili (Georgia), D. Laylo, R. Antonio, E. Ghaemmaghami (Iran), N.T. Nguyen (Vietnam), E. Torre, M. Gagunashvili (Georgia)

3.5 – T.H. Dao (Vietnam), A. Filippov (Uzbekistan), N. Das (India), M. Paragua, Z. Zhang (Singapore), J. Gomez

3 -- T. Kotanjian (Armenia), R. Dableo, A. Gupta (India), Tirto (Indonesia), E. Senador, S. Li (China), M. Maga, R. Bitoon, O. Dimakiling, P. Kostenko (Kazakhstan), J. Gonzales, C. Garma, A. Ismagambetov (Kazakhstan), L. Carlos

MANILA, Oct. 5 (PNA) -- Asia's first GM Eugene Torre displayed vintage form to topple fifth seed GM Abhijeet Gupta of India in a keenly-watched battle to forge a seven-way tie for the lead in the fifth round of the fifth Prospero Pichay Cup international chess championship at the LWUA Bldg. in Katipunan Ave., Quezon City.

Torre, the “Ageless Warrior” of Philippine chess, dug deep in his vast experience to beat the higher-rated Indian player (ELO 2584) and stretch his winning streak to three games in this tough, nine-round tournament organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) in cooperation with the Local Water Utilities Administration. (LWUA).

The 57-year-old Filipino champion, who is still hoping to recover from a lackluster showing in the recent President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Cup chess tournament, is now tied for the lead with top seed GM Mikhail Mchedlishvili of Georgia, fourth seed GM Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son of Vietnam, No. 6 seed GM Ehsan Ghaemmaghami of Iran, No. 7 GM Merab Gagunashvili of Georgia and World Cup-bound Filipino GMs Rogelio Antonio Jr. and Darwin Laylo.

Mchedlishvili, the highest-rated player here with an ELO of 2613, drew with Ghaemmaghami in their top board encounter.

Nguyen, one of two Vietnamese players in the 60-player field, overwhelmed No. 17 Pyotr Kostenko of Kazakhstan in another all-foreigner showdown.

Gagunashvili subdued IM Richard Bitoon, Antonio trounced No. 9 GM Tigran Kotanjian of Armenia and Laylo halved the point with third seed GM Anton Filippov of Uzbekistan to strengthen their chances for the USD 5,000 top prize.

Two other Filipino campaigners -- GMs John Paul Gomez and Mark Paragua -– also moved in contention with a pair of decisive triumphs over their respective opponents.

Gomez, who is best remembered for nailing his GM title during the 38th World Chess Olympiad in Dresden, Germany, whipped Alex Milagrosa, while Paragua, who rose to prominence as the first Filipino player to breach the ELO 2600 rating, dumped Alcon John Datu.

Gomez and Paragua are now tied for eighth to 13th places with Filippov, second seed GM Zhang Zhong of Singapore, GM Dao Thien Hai of Vietnam and GM Das Neelotpal of India, with 3.5 points.

Fourteen other players, led by Kotanjian and GM Anuar Ismagambetov of Kazakhstan and GMs Jayson Gonzales and Ronald Dableo, share 14th to 27th places with three points.

Ismagambetov humbled Rolando Andador, Gonzales split the point with Emmanuel Senador and Dableo overwhelmed Randy Segarra.

Also moving up with three points are IM Oliver Dimakiling, who downed Ali Branzuela, Mirabeau Maga, who outclassed Deniel Causo, IM Chito Garma, who repulsed Cristy Lamiel Bernales, and FM Loenardo Carlos, who stopped Nelson Mariano III.

Tournament director Willie Abalos said a total cash prize of USD 30,000 is at stake in the tournament, with the champion getting the lion’s share of USD 5,000.

The runner-up and the third placer will bring home USD 4,000 and USD 3,000, respectively.