RP chessers trail Kazakhs by one point

TEHRAN – Defending champion Tagaytay-RP drew with Rahahan of Iran in the second round but thumped the other host squad, Tidewater, 3.5-0.5, in round 3 Saturday to close in on two-time champion Pavlodar in the 15th Asian Cities Chess Team Championship-Dubai Cup at the Eran Grand Hotel here.

Coming off back-to-back victories, Wesley So salvaged a draw against GM Amir Bagheri on board 3, failing to match GMs Mark Paragua and Joey Antonio’s romps over M. Sadatnajafi and FM Morteza Darban and fellow IM Oliver Dimakiling’s victory over Adel Sadegji.

But that was enough to give Team RP 3.5 points for a three-round total of 9, one point behind Pavlodar of Kazakhstan, which whipped Tidewater, 3-1, in round 2 in the morning then blasted Saipan, also of Iran, in the third round in the afternoon matches. The Kazakhs now have 10 points.

Tagaytay-RP, which captured the championship in Tagaytay City in 2004, faces Pavlodar in the fourth round Monday in a crucial clash of the fancied bets among 18 teams in the nine-round Swiss system tournament.

Paragua takes on GM Kotsur Pavel on the top board while Antonio will have his hands full against fellow GM Evgeny Vladimirov, the highest rated player in the fold with 2616 Elo rating.

In round 2, Paragua and Antonio settled for draws against FMs Mehrdad Ardeshi and Mohsen Sharbaf, respectively, while So, 14, trounced IM Shojaat Ghane to make up for the loss of Dimakiling to FM Sayed Alavi on board 4.

After being held to a draw by Amman of Jordan in the first round, Shangha of China racked up back-to-back victories in imposing fashions, blasting Colombo of Sri Lanka, 3.5-0.5, in the second round and dominating Rahahan, 3-1, in round 3, to tie Saipan, also of Iran, for third with 8.5 points.

Saipan blasted Calicut of India, 3.5-0.5, and Aleppo of Syria, 4-0, in the first two rounds.