Paragua suffers 1st loss; 4 other RP bets fumble

International master Mark Paragua suffered his first defeat and four others lost also in their respective divisions in the fifth round of the ongoing World Youth Chess Championships 2002 in Hersonissos (Heraklio), Crete, Greece.

Paragua lost to fellow IM Zviad Izoria (ELO 2572) of Georgia in the boys’ under-18 group but remained in contention with 3.5 points.

Meanwhile, National Master Roderick Nava absorbed his second defeat at the hands of Victor Laznicka (ELO 2319) of Czech Republic to remain at 2.5 points in the boys’ under-18.

In other matches featuring Filipino bets, Vic Neil Villanueva (2.5 points) split the point with Loan Rees (ELO 2071) of Wales in the boys’ 14-under, and Nelson "Elo" Mariano III (3.0 points) suffered his second loss against Falko Bindrich (ELO 2172) of Germany in the boys’ 12-under.

In the distaff side, Aices Salvador (2.0 points) lost to Judith Fuchs of Germany in the girls’ 12-under; and Cheradee Chardine Camacho (1.0 point) lost also to Amisha Parmar of England in the 10-under.

National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) Region I coordinator engineer Joseph Dumuk is head of the RP delegation to World Youth Chess Championships.