Pinoy GMs sizzle in opening round
FILIPINO Grandmasters Julio Catalino Sadorra, Mark Paragua, John Paul Gomez and Richard Bitoon got off to a blazing start by posting victories in the first round of the Manny Pacquiao Cup Asian Continental Chess Championship at the Midas Hotel and Casino in Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City last Saturday.
Sadorra toppled countryman FM Hamed Nouri, Paragua routed compatriot IM Emmanuel Senador, Gomez subdued IM Jimmy Liew of Malaysia and Bitoon waylaid another Pinoy entry Adelardo Pagente.
Sharing the limelight were Fide Master Mari Joseph Turqueza and Emmanuel Emperado, who also beat their respective opponents.
Turqueza shocked GM Dao Thien Hai of Vietnam while Emperado upset GM Bayarsaikhan Gundavaa of Mongolia.
IM Chito Garma drew with GM Susanto Megaranto while IM Barlo Nadera split a point with GM Krishnan Sasikiran of India.
Meanwhile, top seed GM Le Quang Liem of Vietnam nipped FM Tran Tuan Minh also from Vietnam and second seed GM Li Chao of China outclassed Ganesan Akash of India. /Correspondent Marlon Bernardino
