World Chess Cup-bound GM Rogelio Antonio Jr. and five-time women’s champion Cristine Rose Mariano served notice of their title aspirations at the start of the Asian Indoor Games qualifying tournament at the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) Bldg. in Quezon City. The veteran Antonio posted 2.5 points out of a possible three to pace the field in the single-round tournament held to determine the country’s representatives to the Asian Indoor Games in Vietnam. He was joined at the top by Julius Joseph de Ramos. One of three Filipino players seeing action in the World Chess Cup in Khanty-Mansisyk, Russia in November, Antonio outclassed Christopher Castellano in the first round, drew with Rolando Nolte in the second then extracted a point off Emmanuel Senador in the third. Letran College standout de Ramos matched Antonio’s record with victories over Haridas Pascua and Ali Branzuela sandwiching a second round standoff with Mari Joseph Turqueza. GMs John Paul Gomez, Mark Paragua and Jayson Gonzales and Branzuela stayed within striking distance with 2 points on two wins and one loss apiece.
Asian Indoor Games elims Men's division Standings after three rounds: 2.5 points – R. Antonio, J. de Ramos 2.0 – J. Gomez, M. Paragua, J. Gonzales, A. Branzuela 1.5 – R. Dableo, C. Castellano 1.0 – D. Laylo, B. Nadera, R. Nolte, M. Turqueza, R. Legaspi, H. Pascua, B. Valencia 0.5 – B. Villamayor, E. Senador Women's division Standings after two rounds: 2.0 points – C. Mariano, B. Mendoza, B. Galas 1.0 – Sherily Cua, C. Perena, L.Medina, J. Berago, R. Tunguia 0.5 – D. Rivera, Shercila Cua 0 – J. Docena, S. Peque, G. Malbog
Gomez defeated Turqueza and GM Buenaventura “Bong" Villamayor but lost to Branzuela; Paragua whipped Belsar Valencia and Barlo Nadera but bowed to Rhobel Legaspi; Gonzales humbled Villamayor and Valencia but fell to Branzuela; and Branzuela won over Gonzales and Gomez but succumbed to de Ramos. GM-elect Ronald Dableo defeated Nadera, drew with Villamayor and lost to Valencia for a 1-1-1 win-draw-loss slate. GM Darwin Laylo, who is also set to compete in the World Cup, trounced Legaspi but lost to Nadera. He drew a bye in the third round. In the women’s division, Mariano, Beverly Mendoza and Bernadette Galas led the way with two wins in as many matches. Mariano defeated Jedara Docena and Lovelyn Medina to take the headstart in the 13-player women’s division. Mendoza crushed Josephine Berago and Shevalyn Peque, while Galas outplayed Daisy Rivera and Geore Malbog to join Mariano in the early lead. Sherily Cua drew with older sister Shercila Cua in the first round and Rivera the following round to lead three other players with one point. Joining Cua were Medina, Catherine Perena, Josephine Berago and Ria Tunguia in fourth to eighth places.
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