Seems like old times for GM Torre

Grandmaster Eugene Torre drew with National Master Allan Sayson in 15 moves of a Petroff Defense yesterday to top the National Open Chess Championship at the SSS Building in Quezon City.

It was a sweet victory for the 49-year-old Torre, who won his first title since topping the Philippine Open six years ago, after going through some anxious moments amidst the Philippine Chess Federation-National Chess Federation of the Philippines crisis.

"Masaya ako dahil nagbunga rin ang paghihirap ko," said Torre, Asia’s first GM. "But this is just the start, there is still the Asian Zonals to prepare for."

Finishing with a total of 7.5 points on four wins and seven draws, Torre’s feat earned him the top purse worth P120,000 plus a berth in the Asian Zone 3.2a Championship, set in Manila on April 23 at a still unspecified venue.

GMs Rogelio Antonio, Jr. and Buenaventura Villamayor downed their respective foes to tie for second and third places with seven points each.

Antonio downed International Master Chito Garma in 24 moves of a French Defense while Villamayor outplayed IM Richard Bitoon in a grueling time scramble in 25 moves of a Catalan Game to win P57,500 each.

Clinching the last two slots in the Asian Zonals were unheralded NMs Allan Sayson of Iligan City and Jayson Gonzales, both finishing with 6.5 points each.

In the distaff side, Joan Toledo emerged as the surprise champion by turning back Aileen Canos in 51 moves of a Sicilian encounter and overtaking erstwhile leader Beverly Mendoza, who settled for a 54-move standoff with Daisy Rivera.

Toledo, a standout of the University of Santo Tomas chess squad, and Mendoza, a native of Cabanatuan City, won P50,000 and P25,000, respectively, and book a seat apiece in the women’s zonals also on April 23. — Joey Villar