Paragua tops ‘Battle of GMs’

GRANDMASTER Mark Paragua can now finally call himself a national champion.

“It’s a dream come true para sa akin. Matagal ko ‘tong hinintay,” said Paragua, after beating reigning national juniors champion FIDE Master Haridas Pascua in the 15th and final round of the 2012 National Open Chess Championships at the Cabagnot Training Center in Old Buswang, Kalibo Aklan.

He finished with 23.0 points to rule the tough field.

Paragua, a triple gold medal winner during the 2003 Vietnam Southeast Asian Games, virtually bagged the title on Tuesday when he defeated FM Roderick Nava and drew with GM John Paul Gomez while co-leader International Master Oliver Dimakiling dropped his matches against GMs Julio Catalino Sadorra and Rogelio “Joey” Antonio.

Sadorra finished second with 20.5 points following his conquest of IM Emmanuel Senador while Dimakiling and GM Eugene Torre shared third place with 20.0 points.

In the final round, Dimakiling topped GM Rogelio “Banjo” Barcenilla while Torre claimed his fourth straight win by beating GM Richard Bitoon.

Dimakiling earned the third and last outright seat to this year’s World Chess Olympiad with a superior tiebreak over Torre.

Top Filipino player GM Wesley So is already assured of a slot while the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) has the option to pick the fifth player of the men’s team.

GM Darwin Laylo bowed to Gomez in the final round to kiss his bid of nailing a ticket to the Olympiad goodbye. He finished with 18.5 points.  /Correspondent Marlon Bernardino