Tough competition seen in Battle of GMs

FORMER two-time Asian Junior champion Grandmaster Rogelio “Banjo” Barcenilla is expecting a tough competition in the this year’s edition of the Battle of the Grandmasters which runs from July 16 to 23 at the Waterfront Manila Pavilion Hotel and Casino in Manila.

“I hope maging maganda ang performance natin sa Battle of the GMs,” said the Arizona, USA-based Barcenilla, who topped the 1989 Asian Junior Chess Championships in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and the tournament’s 1991 edition held in Calicut, Kerala, India.

“Ito na ang pinakamalakas na round-robin tournament na mangyayari sa Pilipinas. Halos nandito na lahat ang top players natin,” added Barcenilla, who finished third during the 1991 World Junior Chess Championships in Mamaia, Romania.

The country’s top-rated wood pusher GM Wesley So (Elo 2658) is expected to defend his Battle of the GMs crown for the 4th straight year against Barcenilla and fellow World Cup participant GM Mark Paragua.

Joining the fray in the 12-player round-robin tournament are GMs Eugene Torre, Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr., Joseph Sanchez of Cebu, John Paul Gomez, Darwin Laylo and Roland Salvador and IMs Oliver Barbosa, Cebuano Richard Bitoon and Jan Emmanuel Garcia.

Reserve players are IMs Rolando Nolte and Yves Ranola.

At stake are trophies and cash prizes including P150,000 for the champion in the FIDE (World Chess Federation) rated event, hosted by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) headed by president/chairman Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr. and sponsored by Waterfront Manila Pavilion Hotel and Casino and Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp.

The tournament director is NCFP Executive Director GM Jayson Gonzales and Supervising Arbiter is IA Gene Poliarco. /Correspondent MARLON BERNARDINO