Torre assured of bronze; Antonio out

Grandmaster Eugene Torre outplayed Vietnam’s Le Quang Liem, 1.5-0.5, to advance to the semifinal round of the individual rapid event of the chess competitions, assuring himself of a bronze medal in the 23rd Southeast Asian Games at the Tagaytay Convention Center.

Held to a draw by the Vietnamese FM in the first game of their two-game knockout match, Torre, the No. 3 seed who drew a bye in the first round, flashed his deep understanding of the game to complete the win and gain a spot in the semis round.

Torre’s victory also made up for the stunning loss of fellow GM Joey Antonio to Indon GM Susanto Megaranto in the quarters that spoiled Antonio’s first crack at the SEAG gold.

Antonio, entered in five events, earlier beat Ak Hirawan Mohd Omar of Brunei, 1.5-0.5, but dropped the first game against Megaranto. He failed to send the match to a playoff after settling for a draw in the second game for a 0-5-1.5 score.

Torre, Asia’s first GM, hopes to sustain his momentum as he takes on second seed Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son of Vietnam in the semis set at 9 a.m. today. The other semis duel pits Singapore’s Jason Goh Koon-jong against Megaranto. Goh posted the day’s biggest upset by booting out top seed Wynn Zaw Htun of Myanmar, 1.5-0.5. The finals will start at 5:30 p.m.

With Antonio out, Torre will try to win the crown and build momentum heading into the one-day rapid team event slated tomorrow where they will be joined by GM Nelson Mariano II and IMs Barlo Nadera and Petronio Roca.

The Philippines is eyeing a sweep of five golds staked in the men’s side. Three golds are up for grabs in the women’s side where the RP team’s bid will be led by Sherrie Joy Lomibao and Beverly Mendoza.

Antonio and Torre will also head the country’s campaign in the standard event, which starts on Wednesday, with IM and last year’s Asian Zonals champion Ronald Dableo, FIDE Master Oliver Dimakiling and NM Oliver Barbosa backing the squad. — Michelle Velete