Villamayor ousts Roca

IM Buenaventura Villamayor completed what he had failed to do the other day, ousting NM Petronio Roca with an emotional 47-move draw of an English Opening yesterday to advance into the round-of-16 of the Chess Pambansa Millennium Grand Prix at the PNB Financial Center in Pasay City.

In the replay of their controversial second game of the 15-minute playoff, which was decided upon by the players appeals committee yesterday, Villamayor seized the initiative early only to lose it in the face of Roca's furious kingside attack.

But Villamayor dug deeper into his bagful of endgame tricks with accurate queen moves to salvage a draw that sealed the match, 3.5-2.5. He faces IM Barlo Nadera in today's round, which was postponed yesterday to give way for the Villamayor-Roca rematch.

Chief arbiter Ernie Baltazar decided Sunday a draw of their contested match which was protested by Roca, who claimed that Villamayor's time ran out when he claimed the standoff.

The committee, composed of Nadera, NM Arlan Cabe, NM Romeo Alcodia and Roger Verganio, decided to replay the match which drew mixed reactions from Roca and Villamayor, who led, 3-2, after winning the first game of their second playoff duel.

"Sa akin, prinsipyo and pinag-uusapan dito. Ang gusto ko lang ipaalam sa lahat na maging decisive sana 'yung mga officials para mapaganda 'yung officiating hindi lang sa laro namin kundi sa mga susunod pang mga laban," said Villamayor.

"Sa totoo lang, disappointed ako sa desisyon kaya lang wala na akong magagawa dahil kung hindi ko lalaruin ito, made-default ako," commented Roca.

Today's round pit Grandmaster Rogelio Antonio Jr. against IM Nelson Mariano II, IM Luis Chiong IV of San Jose, Antique versus Ricky de Guzman of Cainta, Rizal, NM Richard Bitoon against FM Chito Garma, NM Ernesto Absin versus NM Mirabeau Maga, NM Enrique Paciencia Jr. against differently-abled qualifier Jasper Rom, NM Cesar Mariano versus NM Ernesto Fernandez, NM Ildefonso Datu against qualifier Alla Cantonjos, and Villamayor versus Nadera.