So makes one big push for chess crown

MANILA, Philippines - GM Wesley So, unfazed by a controversial draw in the sixth round, posted 1.5 points in the next two rounds to move closer to his second straight crown in the Phoenix Petroleum Battle of GMs at the Dapitan City Resort Hotel in Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte yesterday.

So, 15, held GM Mark Paragua to a 31-move draw of the Sicilian-Rossolimo to chalk up his 13th point, two points ahead of GM Joey Antonio, IM Richard Bitoon and Julio Sadorra heading into the last three rounds of the event.

The draw came after the 15-year-old So whipped IM Ronald Dableo in the seventh round as he remained on course in his bid to claim the top P200,000 purse and firm up his claim as the top player in the country today.

So finished off Dableo in only 26 moves of the French late Saturday to sustain his win streak, momentarily snapped by a draw with Antonio in the sixth round.

But the standoff was ordered nullified by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP), which ordered a replay of the match to be played today.

So takes on Sadorra in the ninth round.

Gomez made the biggest move in the weekend, beating GM Darwin Laylo in 58 moves of a Gruenfeld and GM Bong Villamayor in 46 moves of the English to raise his total to 11 points.

Sadorra later matched Gomez’s two-game streak by humbling IM Rolando Nolte (48, English) and GM Jayson Gonzales (40, King’s Indian) to force a three-way tie with Antonio and Bitoon.

Antonio humbled Villamayor in 62 moves of the Bogo-Indian but lost to Dableo in marathon 98 moves of the Scandinavian. Bitoon drew with GM Eugene Torre in 55 moves of the Sicilian and won over Nolte in 30 moves of another Sicilian.

Laylo drew with Torre in 60 moves of the Nimzo-Indian to grab solo sixth place with 8.5 points.

In women’s play, Dresden Olympiad veteran Shercila Cua drew with Catherine Perena in 65 moves of the Reti and won over Loreshyl Cuizon in 47 moves of the English to stay on top with 12 points.                                  

WIM Beverly Mendoza drew with Sherily Cua in 44 moves of the King’s Indian and trounced Daisy Rivera in 50 moves of the Sicilian to remain at second with 11.5 points.