Final standings:
9.0 – GM Wesley So
8.0 – IM Oliver Barbosa, GM Eugene Torre
7.5 – GM Darwin Laylo, GM Rogelio Antonio Jr., IM Richard Bitoon, GM Joseph Sanchez, IM Rolando Nolte
6.0 – GM Mark Paragua
5.5 – GM John Paul Gomez
5.0 – GM Rogelio Barcenilla, IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia
4.5 – GM Roland Salvador
3.0 – IM Yves Ranola
GRANDMASTER Wesley So added another trophy to his burgeoning collection yesterday by winning the National Chess Championships: 4th Battle of the Grandmasters tournament at the National Press Club in Intramuros, Manila.
The 17-year-old Bacoor, Cavite whiz kid clinched the coveted title after halving the point with GM Darwin Laylo in 32 moves of English Opening in yesterday’s 13th round.
It was a down-the-wire finish for So who tallied 9.0 points, a full-point ahead of his closest rivals in the tournament supported by Pilipinas Shell, Manila Pavilion Waterfront Hotel and Casino, Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, NPC, Remate and Hataw (JSY Publication).
It was So’s fourth straight triumph in as many editions of the Battle of the Grandmasters which is a brainchild of National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) chairman/president Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr.
The country’s highest rated player won P150,000 for his effort.
“This is a very tough tournament. It may look easy dahil ako ‘yun nasa taas from the start pero alam naman natin na until the final round hindi sure kung ako ang magiging champion,” said So, who rallied in the homestretch to win the title last year.
With So already beyond reach, GM Eugene Torre and International Master Oliver Barbosa agreed to quick draws against separate final round opponents to share second and third spots with 8.0 points. Barbosa however, took runner-up honors by virtue of the win-over-the-other rule.
Torre halved the point with Cebuano GM Joseph Sanchez after 30 moves of Queen’s Pawn Opening while Barbosa drew with GM Rogelio Antonio Jr. after 30 moves of London System.
In other matches, IM Rolando Nolte downed IM Yves Ranola after 33 moves of Sicilian; GM Mark Paragua halved the point with Cebuano IM Richard Bitoon after 31 moves of Nimzo Indian; GM Rogelio Barcenilla Jr. drew with IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia and GM John Paul Gomez drew with GM Roland Salvador after 31 moves of Slav.
Meanwhile, Woman FIDE Master Rulp Ylem Jose retained her title after beating Rowelyn Joy Acedo in 36 moves of Queen’s Pawn Game. She finished with 9.0 points to collect the P40,000 top prize.