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GRANDMASTER Wesley So is in a hurry. He’s rushing more memorable
chapters to a storybook season.
The current toast of local chess formally
claimed the title in the Philippine Battle of the GMs after a draw
with two-time national junior champion International Master John
Paul Gomez in the final round Saturday at the 11th floor of City
State Hotel.
So and Gomez agreed to split the point after 30
moves of French.
The 14-year-old from Bacoor, Cavite finished the
tournament with 8.5 points on six wins and five draws.
It was the third straight title for So in a span
of five weeks.
He ruled the prestigious 10th Dubai Open chess
championship in Dubai, United Arab Emirates last month and proceeded
to beat Indonesian GM Susansto Megaranto in their one-on-one duel in
Jakarta, Indonesia.
Asia’s first GM Eugene Torre and IM Richard
Bitoon shared second spot, a full point behind So.
Torre settled for a quick 20-move draw with GM
Joey Antonio in their Caro Kann encounter while Bitoon outplayed GM
Bong Vilamayor in 35 moves of Queen’s Indian.
Gomez finished in solo fourth place with 7.0
points followed by Antonio in fifth place with 6.5 points and
National Master Rolando Nolte in sixth place with 5.5 points.
In the women’s division, Catherine Pereña
bagged the title and the P50,000 top prize.
Pereña drew with Kimberly Cunanan in 43 moves
of the Queen’s Indian to finish with 8.0 points, half a point
ahead of Sherily Cua and Chardine Cheradee Camacho.
Cua stopped Jenny Palomo in 36 moves of the
King’s Indian while Camacho downed Shercila Cua in 35 moves of
French.
-- Noli S. Cruz
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