Winning a matter of patience

From the elims to the quarterfinals, NM Enrique Paciencia never had the chance to showcase his talent in active chess. But dragged into a battle against time for the first time against one of the best talents in the fold, Paciencia didn't flinch and came out unscathed to gain a crack at the richest pot ever staked in local chess.

Pouncing on IM Bong Villamayor's dubious queen move in a tension-filled race against time, Paciencia turned a losing stand into a winning attack to complete a stunning 2.5-1.5 win over the third seeded bet and barge into the final of the Chess Pambansa Millennium Grand Prix at the PNB Financial Center in Pasay yesterday.

It was a sweet victory for the 32-year-old Paciencia, who bounced back from Monday's setback to Villamayor with a brilliant 24-move victory the other day before pulling off what could have been the biggest upset win since Oliver Dimakiling ousted top seed GM Eugene Torre in the first round.

"Medyo cramped 'yung posisyon ko at kumbaga waiting game na lang ako pero nung nakakita ako ng butas, doon na nagsimula 'yung atake ko na nagpanalo sa akin," said Paciencia, who held on to a mind-draining 96-move draw (Slav) in their first 30-minute encounter, before turning back Villamayor in 56 moves of a semi-Benoni game in their second playoff match.

It certainly was Paciencia's biggest feat since he finished joint fifth in the 1997 Far East Bank Master Classic after drawing with GM Rogelio Antonio, Jr., the very player he will be facing for the top P1 million prize.

"Bahala na basta ako magdadasal na lang ulit ako gaya ng ginawa ko sa laro namin ni Bong (Villamayor)," said Paciencia when asked of his chances against the second seeded bet from Quezon City.

Paciencia must have indeed prayed hard when he went a pawn down with a cramped position at endgame.

With time running out for both players, Villamayor, in an attempt to further gain a material advantage, came up with a Queen move that turned out to be dubious as Paciencia made a sacrifice, giving up a knight for a pawn which he regained two moves later, and with it came a dangerous back rank attack on his rival's exposed King. -