Millennium Chess Grand Prix starts

Grandmasters Eugene Torre and Rogelio Antonio Jr. take on foes in a clash of two generations as the main draw of the Chess Pambansa Millennium Grand Prix kicks off today at the PNB Building in Pasay.

Torre, the top seed here with an Elo rating of 2557, takes on La Salle standout Oliver Dimakiling while the second-seeded Antonio faces comebacking Quiapo-based dentist Jenny Mayor at 1 p.m.

Other matches pit third seed International Master Buenaventura Villamayor against National Master Erwin Carag, NM Richard Bitoon versus Stewart Manaog, NM Fernie Donguines against Ramil Galang, NM Yves Rañola versus NM Carlo Lorena, IM Rico Mascariñas against Juan Soria, NM Jayson Gonzales versus Ricky Merano, NM Emmanuel Senador against NM Efren Bagamasbad, and IM Nelson Mariano II versus Dick Gicain.

The 128-player field, completed yesterday by the entry of three others who made it through the three-day eliminations, will fight it out in a knockout system format patterned after the annual FIDE World Championships for the top purse worth P1 million.

Joselito Alejano led two other qualifiers with a pulsating 2-0 win over Julius Espinosa in the second playoff match yesterday with Alejano clinching the berth with a masterful 34-move win of a Benko game.

Alejano and Espinosa halved the first two matches and the first 30-minute playoff early yesterday afternoon but the former took the initiative after winning the first 15-minute playoff game in 45-moves of a supersharp Sicilian encounter before sealing the last slot with a victory.

Also advancing in the elite group were Allan Cantonjos, who eliminated Sorsogon's James Apin after a fighting 43-move standoff for a 1.5-.5 win, and Davao del Norte's Gil Rodis, who blanked Napoleon Merioles of Bulan, Sorsogon, 2-0, in their own duel. -