Datu raps Martinez, shows way

Idelfonso Datu used his vast experience with the Reti Opening to outclass fellow National Master Rolly Martinez in 31 moves yesterday and wrest the lead heading into the last four rounds of the National Open Chess Championships at the Greenhills Shopping Center in San Juan.

Datu, a two-time Olympiad veteran, gained a slight positional advantage early in the game and then created several attacking positions which he later used in crushing his rival’s kingside.

Martinez, who committed a blunder in the middlegame, resigned after the 31st move.

The win hiked Datu’s output to seven points, a point and a half away from securing a berth in the finals where they will be joined in by GMs Eugene Torre, Rogelio Antonio Jr. and Bong Villamayor, who were all seeded into the championship round.

NM Rodrigo Atotubo, a Bacolod City native who recently returned to active play after a brief retirement, and IM Chito Garma agreed to a draw after 43 moves of their double-edged Sicilian encounter and remained tied for second with three others with sixth points apiece.

IM-candidate Jayson Gonzales and IM Enrique Paciencia Jr., last year’s Millennium Grand Prix second placer, likewise halved the point in only eight moves of an Irregular Opening.

Former national junior titlist NM Ronald Dableo of San Sebastian College joined the group of six-pointers following a 38-move triumph over Truman Hernaez.

In the distaff side, Daisy Rivera put an end to unheralded Jonalyn Torres’ stirring run of victories as she pulled off a 42-move win of their Sicilian game to seize the lead after six rounds of play.

Rivera now has 5.5 points while Torres, a native of Camarines Norte, fell to second with five, one point ahead of Blanca Magada and Sherrie Pearl Dela Cruz.

Magada stopped Kimberly Cunanan, the youngest participant at nine years old, in 47 moves, while Dela Cruz, a member of the UST women’s chess team, downed Irene Orpilla in 29 moves.