Gomez, Paragua pace Asian Zonals

MANILA, Philippines - GMs John Paul Gomez and Mark Paragua outplayed their rivals to seize the early lead while NM Rhobel Legaspi stunned Vietnamese GM Dao Thien Hai with a draw in the Asian Zonal Chess Championships which got under way yesterday at the Tagaytay International Convention Center in Tagaytay.

Gomez trounced IM Tirto of Indonesia in 37 moves of a Slav while Paragua stopped compatriot Edgar Reggie Olay in 34 moves of a Gruenfeld defense to set the early pace in the event which stakes two berths in this year’s World Cup.

Legaspi also grabbed the spotlight when he forced the fancied Dao, ranked eighth in the event, to a draw via repetition of moves.

Earlier, National Chess Federation of the Philippines president Butch Pichay, Tagaytay City Mayor Bambol Tolentino, also the Asian Zone 3.3 president, Vietnam Chess Federation president Dang That Tang, Asian Chess Federation deputy vice president Casto Abundo, NCFP director Judge Gonzalo Mapile and Asia’s first IM Rodolfo Tan Cardoso graced the opener of the event.

Reigning national junior champion NM Mari Joseph Turqueza also held IM Rolando Nolte to a draw after 27 moves of a Sicilian while GMs Eugene Torre and Joey Antonio were still playing against FM Haridas Pascua and Asian Under-16 champion Jan Emmanuel Garcia, respectively, at press time.

Also playing were top seed GM Zhang Zhong of Singapore against Indonesian Fide Master Kasmiran; Vietnamese No. 3 GM Cao Sang against Indonesian FM Anjas Novita and sixth seed GM Susanto Megaranto of Indonesia against Mongolia’s Myagmarsuen Gunbayar.

Also up for grabs is the lone women’s seat in the Women’s World Championship which attracted 36 players, headed by top seed Singaporean IM Li Ruofan, wife of Zhang.