Paragua six points short of super-GM rating

Filipino International Master Mark Paragua gained another 10 points in the latest FIDE (Federation Internationale Des Echecs) ratings to be released next month.

From 2586 at the end of last year, Paragua improved to 2596 following an impressive finish in the 2004 Singapore Open where he finished joint first with Indonesian teenage sensation Grandmaster Susanto Megaranto.

As a result, Paragua, who will turn 21 tomorrow, fortified his place as RP’s highest-rated chesser while inching closer to becoming the first Filipino to breach the 2600 plateau or what is commonly known in chess as "super-GM level."

It speaks well for a player who has been denied a well-deserved GM title after FIDE curiously deferred making any decision on his applicatin for a GM title.

GM Joey Antonio, in contrast, lost 26 points and slid from second to third spot after his rating of 2539 fell to 2513. Idle GM Eugene Torre regained No. 2 with 2530 while United States-based IM Rogelio Barcenilla, Jr. remained at No. 4 with 2507.

Next to Paragua, the biggest gainers were IMs Jayson Gonzales, Yves Ranola and Joseph Sanchez, and FIDE Master Roland Salvador, all campaigners in strong European circuits.

Gonzales zoomed to No. 5 (2474) from No. 7 (2459), Ranola to No. 6 (2467) from No. 9 (2455), and Sanchez–Paragua’s long-time second–to No. 9 (2452) from No. 12 (2430).

A contemporary of Paragua who also hails from Bulacan, Salvador, 23, for his part, gained 22 points to improve from 32nd (2340) to 27th (2360).

Nelson Mariano, RP’s fifth and newest GM, fell from No. 5 to No. 6 with 2468 and GM Bong Villamayor, currently based in Singapore, from No. 6 (2463) to No. 10 (2451). IM Idelfonso Datu remained at No. 8 with 2457.

There was no movement on the women’s side with WIM Beverly Mendoza and Sherrie Joy Lomibao keeping their lofty perch at first and second places with 2150 and 2115, respectively.