Young Paragua regains lead; Torre joint second

Mark Paragua dealt fellow International Master Chito Garma a stunning defeat yesterday to regain the solo lead going into the last four rounds of the National Chess Championship at the 17th floor (Penthouse) of the All Asia Center in Makati.

The 18-year-old GM candidate who admits to have a winning record over Garma in the last few years again essayed the classical lines of the Alekhine to earn his eighth point and move closer to the title and the P150,000 cash prize that goes with it.

Paragua‘s next opponent is no less than Grandmaster Bong Villamayor.

Another young campaigner, two-time national junior NM John Paul Gomez, moved closer to Paragua at 7.5 points after beating NM Elmer Sumngat in a (57, King’s Indian Defense).

In other boards, National Master Petronio Roca downed NM Alex Milagrosa (35, Sicilian) to squeeze into a tie for second-fifth places with Garma, GM Eugene Torre and IM Nelson Mariano with seven points.