Retains one-point lead in 4th Battle of GMs

Standings after round 6:

5.0 pts — GM Wesley So

4.0 pts — GM Eugene Torre, GM Darwin Laylo, IM Oliver Barbosa

3.5 pts — IM Rolando Nolte, IM Richard Bitoon

3.0 pts — GM Rogelio Antonio Jr., GM Mark Paragua

2.5 pts — GM John Paul Gomez, GM Rogelio Barcenilla, GM Joseph Sanchez, IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia

1.5 pts — GM Roland Salvador

0.5 pts — IM Yves Ranola

GRANDMASTER Wesley So scored back-to-back draws in the fifth and sixth rounds but still retained his one point lead after six rounds of the National Chess Championships: 4th Battle of the Grandmasters at the National Press Club in Intramuros, Manila.

His latest draw was against Ateneo junior standout IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia in the sixth round yesterday. The 17-year-old Bacoor, Cavite whiz kid earlier drew with IM Rolando Nolte in the fifth round late Monday.

So, the event’s  three-time defending champion, improved  to 5.0 points on four wins and two draws in the event organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines and supported by Pilipinas Shell, Manila Pavilion Waterfront Hotel and Casino, Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, NPC, Remate and Hataw (JSY Publication).

Meanwhile, Asia’s first GM Eugene Torre scored back-to-back wins against GM John Paul Gomez yesterday and IM Garcia on Monday to raise his total to 4.0 points and gain a share of 2nd place along with GM Darwin Laylo and IM Oliver Barbosa.

Laylo, the 2011 Pichay Chess Cup champion, split the point with GM Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr. and GM Roland Salvador, respectively while Barbosa, who is fresh from winning the 2011 Campomanes Yangon International Open Chess Championships, halved the point with Gomez before beating IM Yves Ranola.

At 5th to 6th spots were Nolte and Cebuano IM Richard Bitoon. Nolte settled for a draw with GM Mark Paragua while Bitoon bested Salvador in the fifth before losing to GM Rogelio “Banjo” Barcenilla Jr. yesterday. Paragua beat Barcenilla in the 5th round.

Cebuano GM Joseph Sanchez drew with GM Antonio in yesterday’s sixth round.

In the distaff side, WIM Catherine Perena beat Shania Mae Mendoza to keep the lead with 4.5 points in five rounds.

The men’s champion will receive P150,000 while the women’s winner will take home P50,000.