by Marlon Bernardino
MANILA–Filipino Grandmaster John Paul Gomez forged a four-way tie for the lead after scoring a crucial third-round victory in the MCPL’s Manny Pacquiao International Open Chess Festival in General Santos on Wednesday, Dec. 14. In photo above are all Filipino titled players and Chief Arbiter IA Patrick Lee and Deputy Chief Arbiter IA James Infiesto. In photo below are all foreign players. The tournament is financially supported by FIDE Open Aid Project through the National Chess Federation of the Philippines.
Gomez defeated International Master Michael Concio Jr. in 56 moves of a Guioco Piano Opening to share the top spot with fellow three pointers GMs Hovhannes Gabuzyan of Armenia, Lucas Van Foreest of the Netherlands and Pier Luigi Basso of Italy in this event that coincided with the 44th birthday of patron and boxing legend Manny Pacquiao o,n Saturday.
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Gomez, 37, who was the country’s best scorer with an undefeated seven points out of 10 games in the World Chess Olympiad in Chennai, India early this year, showed his vast knowledge of the opening and his superb endgame technique to ground the 17-year-old Concio.
Thanks to the win, the Binan, Laguna native continued to inch closer to reigning supreme in this nine-round tournament that stakes P1.14 million to the eventual titlist, the biggest prize in recent years.
Gabuzyan toppled American IM John Daniel Bryant; Van Foreest routed Russian Konstanin Sek; and Basso subdued Filipino IM Kim Steven Yap.
In the chase pack just half a point behind with 2.5 points were six others headed by FIDE Master Alekhine Nouri, who crushed Jeriel Manlimbana.
GM Darwin Laylo, GM Vitaly Sivuk of Sweden, GM Joey Antonio, IM Cris Ramayrat, IM Rolando Nolte and FM Jeth Romy Morado were in that same bunch of 2.5 pointers.
Panabo City wonder boy and Dasmarinas City, Cavite resident, 13-year-old National Master Christian Gian Karlo Arca (above left) sustained his fairy tale run as he followed up his stunning win over ninth seed IM Dragos Ceres of Moldova (above right) in the opening round Tuesday with two straight draws with Ramayrat and IM Chito Garma to climb to a huge group with two points.
The 13 years old Arca, Grade 8 student of Dasmariñas Integrated High School, playing under the guidance of Rep. Pidi Barzaga, Mayor Jenny Barzaga, National Coach FIDE Master Roel Abelgas, and Class Adviser Mrs. Melinda Calumaya, wielded the Caro-Kann Defense with impunity and delivered the knockout blow via an unstoppable queenside passed pawn to hack out the stunning 57-move win.
When it was over, the 18-year-old Ceres, a European Under-15 silver winner and a reserve of the Moldovan team that saw action in Chennai Olympiad early this year, was left with two pawns down, an exposed king and an Arca b-file pawn ready to get promoted to a queen.
Arca was eyeing a fitting follow up to his mammoth win as he was clashing with veteran IM Cris Ramayrat in the second round at press time.