Endgame savvy gives GM Gomez solo lead

MANILA, Philippines - GM John Paul Gomez turned a drawish endgame into a rousing victory, beating FM Jan Emmanuel Garcia to grab the solo lead in the seventh round of the Phoenix Petroleum-Battle of GMs national chess championships at the Character Hotel in Tagaytay yesterday.

Gomez used his experience to baffle Garcia at endgame, scoring the hard-earned victory in 60 moves of a Pirc for the solo lead with six points.

Defending champion GM Wesley So failed to match that output as he was held to a draw by IM Rolando Nolte in 68 moves of the King’s Indian defense.

So slid to second with 5.5 points heading into the last four rounds of the tournament organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) in cooperation with Phoenix Petroleum and the Tagaytay City government.

“I was lucky to pull it (victory) off,” Gomez said.

Gomez and Garcia both had two pawns and a bishop of the same color but the former had a threatening mate or pawn promotion when the 14-year-old Garcia resigned.

So, who shared the lead with Gomez after the sixth round Sunday, gave up two pieces – bishop and knight – to gain a strong kingside attack against the lower-rated Nolte.

But Nolte, who finished joint second in the recent PSC chairman Harry Angping Cup won by GM Joey Antonio, defended well and thwarted So’s attack.

In other matches, Antonio and Darwin Laylo agreed to a draw by repetition via 19 moves of the Sicilian; IM Ronald Dableo beat IM Oliver Dimakiling in 35 moves of the French Defense; and IMs Richard Bitoon and Julio Catalino Sadorra split the point in 70 moves of another French.

Antonio, who yielded his sixth-round match against So by default, remained in third place with 4.5 points, followed by Laylo with four points, Bitoon with 3.5 points, Sadorra with three points and Nolte and Dableo with 2.5 points.

In women’s play, WFM Chardine Cheradee Camacho outdueled Aices Salvador to grab the solo lead with 5.5 points, half a point ahead of WIM Beverly Mendoza, WFM Catherine Perena and Rulp Ylem Jose.

Mendoza, who bagged the title in the first edition held in Manila in 2008, trounced Mikee Charlene Suede in 30 moves of the French defense.

Perena clipped Akiko Charmaine Suede in 33 moves of a Slav; while Jose downed reigning titlist WFM Shercila Cua in marathon 96 moves of a Queen’s Gambit Declined.