Cebu’s IM Bitoon nips Paragua, shares lead

SUBIC, Zambales — Cebuano International Master Richard Bitoon got the better of Filipino Grandmaster Mark Paragua in their tense third-round showdown late Friday, to gain a share of the lead in the Chairman Prospero “Butch” Pichay Cup International Chess Championship at the Subic Bay Travelers Hotel, here.

The Medellin, Cebu-native Bitoon, the former top player of the Philippine Navy Chess Team joined GM John Paul Gomez and GM Darwin Laylo of the Philippines and Wang Chen of China at the top of the individual standings with perfect 3.0 points.

“Sana makakuha ako ng GM norm dito,” said Bitoon who beat compatriot Kevin Mirano and Guo Qi of China in the first two rounds.

In the fourth round, Bitoon, who is eyeing a GM norm in the 10-round, Swiss system tournament, goes up against Gomez on Board 1 while  Laylo battles Wang on Board 2.

Gomez routed GM Cerdas Barus of Indonesia, Laylo toppled Yu Ruiyuan of China while Wang upset countryman GM Li Shilong of China.

The games between GM Eugene Torre and GM Zhang Zhong of Sinapore, GM Xu Jun of China vs. GM David Arutinian of Georgia and GM Wen Yang vs. Lu Shanglei of China all ended in draws.

Torre, Zhang, Xu, Arutinian, Yang and Lu raised their total to 2.5 points, the same output of top seed GM Merab Gagunashvili of Georgia, Xiu Deshun, Wan Yunguo of China, FM Anam Khairul of Indonesia and 12-time national open champion GM Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr. in the event  organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) headed by chairman Prospero Pichay Jr. and backed  by SBMA administrator Armand Arreza and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC). /Correspondent Marlon Bernardino