Paragua in solo lead of Pacman Cup

Standings after Round 5:

(Open division)

4.5 pts — GM Mark Paragua (PHI)

4.0 pts — GM Julio Catalino Sadorra (PHI), GM Le Quang Liem (VIET), GM John Paul Gomez (PHI), GM Richard Bitoon (PHI), GM Li Chao (CHN)

(Women’s Division)

4.0 pts — IM Batkhuyag Munguntuul (MGL), WGM Mary Ann Gomes (IND), WGM Guo Qi (CHN), WGM Wang Jue (CHN)

3.5 pts — WGM Huang Qian (CHN), WGM Nafisa Muminova (UZB), IM Pham Le Thao Nguyen (VIET), WIM Ni Shiqun (CHN), WGM Tan Zhongyi (CHN), WFM Marie Antoinette San Diego (PHI)

Manila—Grandmaster Mark Paragua defeated countryman GM Julio Catalino Sadorra in 33 moves of French defense to grab the solo lead after Wednesday’s fifth round of the $100,000 Manny Pacquiao Cup Asian Continental Chess Championship at the Midas Hotel and Casino.

In the 31st move, Sadorra committed big blunder by putting his knight in the c8 square instead of moving it to c6 square allowing Paragua to maneuver a brilliant rook sacrifice against the white bishop of the former (Sadorra) enroute to the 33rd-move checkmate.

“May pagkakataon sanang makatabla kung nailagay ko ang knight sa c6 square at hindi sa c8 square sa 31 move,” said the 26-year-old Sadorra, a senior business administration student at University of Texas-Dallas.

The 29-year-old Bulacan ace Paragua raised his total to 4.5 points good for the solo lead. He is now half point ahead of compatriots Sadorra, GMs John Paul Gomez and Richard Bitoon, GM Li Chao of China and top seed GM Le Quang Liem of Vietnam.

The nine-round Swiss System event offers $100,000 in prizes, is organized by the GM Eugene Torre Chess Foundation and sponsored by eight-division world boxing champion and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao, Cafe Puro, Alaxan, Oriental and Motolite Corp.

In the sixth round, Paragua will meet Le on board one, Li will face Cebu’s Bitoon on board two and Sadorra will play Gomez on board three.

OTHER RESULTS

In other results, Gomez defeated GM Li Shilong of China after 33 moves of Gruenfeld defense; Bitoon edged GM Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr. after 47 moves of Catalan Opening; Li Chao routed GM Dao Thie Hai of Vietnam after 37 moves of Sicilian defense while Le split the point with GM Lalith Babu of India after 47 moves of Queen’s Indian defense.

In women’s action, WGM Mary Ann Gomes of India outclassed WGM Guliskhan Nakhbayeva of Kazakhstan to create a four-way tie for first along with IM Batkhuyag Munguntuul of Mongolia, WGMs Guo Qi and Wang Jue of China with 4.0 points each.

Filipina WFM Antoinette San Diego blasted WGM Swaminathan Soumya of India to lead the group of 3.5 pointers that includes WGMs Huang Qian and Tan Zhongyi and WIM Ni Shiqun of China, WGM Nafisa Muminova of Uzbekistan and IM Pham Le Thao Nguyen of Vietnam.