Pascua rips Russian GM, takes control in int’l chess

MANILA, Philippines - IM Haridas Pascua pulled off a shock 74-move victory over Russian GM Anton Demchenko yesterday to gain a share of the lead with seven others after two rounds of the PSC-Puregold International Chess Challenge at Celebrity Sports Plaza in Quezon City.

The 21-year-old Pascua, a stalwart of Univ. of Baguio from Mangatarem, Pangasinan, held his ground with the black in his Bird Opening duel with Demchenko then outwitted his second seeded rival to join GMs Ivan Popov of Russia, Levan Pantsulaia of Georgia, Avetik Grigoryan of Armenia, John Paul Gomez, Darwin Laylo and Julio Catalino Sadorra of the Philippines.

IM Barlo Nadera also upended countryman GM Oliver Barbosa for two points.

Popov subdued GM Richard Bitoon, Pantsulaia, winner of the just-concluded Philippine International Chess Championship, downed IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia; and Grigoryan beat GM Jayson Gonzales, the National Chess Federation of the Philippines executive director.

Gomez, highest-placed Filipino in the Philippine International Open division, whipped Noel dela Cruz; Laylo bested Merben Roque, conqueror of Russian GM Mikhail Mozharov in the first round; while the US-based Sadorra thwarted IM Oliver Dimakiling. 

Bunched at 1.5 points were Georgian GM Merab Gagushnavili, Filipino IM Paulo Bersamina, Indian IM Narayanan Sunilduth Lyna and Filipino GM Rogelio Antonio.

The 16-year-old Bersamina held Gagunashvili to a draw, while Sunilduth Lyna and Antonio prevailed over Michael Gotel and Woman Fide Master Shania Mae Mendoza, respectively.

The 10-round tournament, sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission and Puregold, lured 46 bets in the Open division and 120 entries in the Challenger’s section. It is supported by Asia United Bank, Burlington, Celebrity Sports Plaza, Microtel and Harold’s Hotel.

The third round of the $30,000 tournament was being played last night with the eight pacesetters tangling with one another.

The top-seeded Popov (Elo 2622) was pitted against Gomez, Pantsulaia against Laylo, Pascua against Grigoryan and Nadera against Sadorra.

Other second round results saw IM’s Rolando Nolte and Kim Steven Yap play to a draw, Sheider Nebato split the point with Mozharov, FM Mari Joseph Torqueza draw with IM Emmanuel Senador and Onofre Espiritu beat Mongolian FM Sumiya Bilguun.