GM Sadorra assumes solo lead after 4 rounds of Pacman chess

MANILA—Filipino Grandmaster (GM) Julio Catalino Sadorra grabbed the solo lead in the $100,000 Manny Pacquiao Cup Asian Continental Chess Championship after beating erstwhile undefeated Qatari GM Mohammed Al-Sayed on Tuesday’s fourth round at the Midas Hotel and Casino.
The 26-year-old Sadorra raised his total to 4.0 points after beating Al-Sayed in 47 pushes of their King’s Indian encounter. A rook sacrifice in the 25th move gave Sadorra a clear win in the position in the succeeding moves.
“Na inspire po tayo ng bumisita at nanood ng laro si world boxing champion Rep. Manny Pacquiao at kaya naging aggressive din laro ko kay GM Al Sayed,” said Sadorra, a senior business administration student at University of Texas-Dallas.
When the smoke of the battle cleared, Sadorra has a rook and threes pawn against Al-Sayed’s rook and a pawn.
The nine-round Swiss System event offers $100,000 and is organized by the GM Eugene Torre Chess Foundation and sponsored by eight-division world boxing champion and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao.
Meanwhile, top seed GM Le Quang Liem of Vietnam and GM Mark Paragua won their respective matches to share 2nd to 3rd spots with 3.5 points apiece.
Le, who boasts of an Elo rating of 2714, beat GM Darwin Laylo after 79 moves of Gruenfeld defense while Paragua subdued IM Wan Yunguo of China after 39 moves of Sicilian defense.
Al-Sayed, meantime dropped into a huge group of 3.0 pointers alongside GMs John Paul Gomez, Richard Bitoon and Rogelio Antonio Jr. of the Philippines, GMs Li Shilong and Li Chao of China, GMs Baskaran Adhiban, Babu Lalith and Gopal of India, GM Marat Dzhumaev of Uzbekistan and GM Dao Thien Hai of Vietnam.