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Chess: Five gain good shot at La Union Open chess crown

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  • Chess: Five gain good shot at La Union Open chess crown

    ABS CBN News, Philippines
    March 8 2004

    Five gain good shot at La Union Open chess crown

    By Manny Benitez
    TODAY Chess Columnist


    A thrilling race for the top prizes developed after coleaders Barlo
    Nadera and Ronald Nolte fought to a short draw in the penultimate
    eighth round of the weeklong, cash-rich La Union Open chess
    tournament, allowing three others to join them at the helm with 6.5
    points apiece.

    Nadera, an international master (IM) from Mandaue City, and Nolte, a
    national master (NM) from Baguio City, called a truce after only 15
    moves of a Nimzo-Indian duel. Both belong to the Air Force team.

    In an e-mail from San Fernando City, publicist Marlon Bernardino
    quoted Nolte as saying: `Napagod na yata si Barlo kaya nakipagkasundo
    siya ng draw sa aking kahit puti pa siya.'

    They shared the lead with IM Richard Bitoon of Medellin, Cebu, who
    beat Jerome Balico of Isabela in 39 moves of another Nimzo-Indian; NM
    Darwin Laylo of Marikina, who outplayed NM Yves Ranola of Caloocan in
    48 moves of an English; and NM Ronald Llavanes of Naga City, who
    stopped Ferdinand Leysa of South Cotabato in 44 moves of a Modern
    Defense.

    Just half a point behind the five leaders were four players led by
    lone Grandmaster (GM) Eugene Torre, who outclassed Alex Milagrosa in
    31 moves of a Vienna.

    The three other 6.0 pointers entering the ninth and final game were
    IM Petronio Roca of Dasmariñas, Cavite, Fide Master (FM) Fernie
    Donguines of Parañaque City, and Rustum Tolentino of Cagayan de Oro
    City.

    They won against Roland Salvador of San Jose del Monte City, Jermel
    Abordo of Mexico, Pampanga, and FM Jesse Noel Sales of Calamba City,
    respectively.

    The top prize of P80,000 is at stake for the champion of the
    tournament organized by the National Chess Federation of the
    Philippines with the support of La Union Gov. Victor Ortega, San
    Fernando City Mayor Jane C. Ortega and the Villa Estrella Beach
    Resort.

    Tournament director is Engr. Joseph Dumuk.

    Meanwhile, the Reykjavik Open chess tournament got under way on
    Sunday (Monday in Manila) in the Icelandic capital made famous by the
    historic Bobby Fischer-Boris Spassky world championship match of
    1972.

    Top players from all over the world, including Russian GM Alexei
    Dreev, teenage Chinese GM Bu Xiangzhi and the former Australian
    champion, GM Ian Rogers, are competing in the nine-round event.

    The top three finishers are to qualify for the Reykjavik Rapid, which
    will take place from March 17 to 21.

    Former world champions Garry Kasparov and Anatoly Karpov of Russia
    are to lead a cast of heavyweights, including former challenger Nigel
    Short of England, Emil Sutovsky of Israel and Peter Heine Nielsen of
    Sweden, in the rapid event.

    In Armenia, a memorial tournament in honor of the late ex-world
    champion Tigran Petrosian, the deaf former chimney sweeper who
    reigned at the height of Soviet hegemony from 1963 to '69, starts on
    Tuesday.

    Although he had the reputation of being a relatively dull player
    because of his positional style of play, Petrosian is the only
    champion in chess history who swept through the interzonal and
    candidates' matches undefeated.

    The Petrosian Memorial will be held in Stepanakert, Karabakh, in the
    former scene of conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan in 1992.
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