Extra slot nakataya sa Asian Zone Chessfest

Inihayag kahapon ni National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFF) president GM Eugene Torre ang extra slot na nakataya para sa local players sa Asian Zonal Chess Championship na nakatakda sa Abril 23-30 sa Laguna Room, Grand Boulevard Hotel, Manila.

Ang karagdagang qualifiers ay madedetermina sa pamamagitan ng 9-round Swiss System tournament sa Abril 21-22 sa Grandmasters’ Cafe, 71 Timog Avenue Quezon City.

"According to Zone president Ignatius Leong, there is a strong possibility that five extra berths will be alloted to the Filipino chessers as per FIDE Regulation," ani Torre. "Furthermore, the NCFP will also allow the sponsors to field one or two players of their own choosing."

Ang mga manlalaro na inimbitahan para lumahok ay sina NM Emmanuel Senador, NM Richard Bitoon, FM Idel Datu, NM Yves Ranola, IM Barlo Nadera, IM Nelson Mariano II, IM Ricky de Guzman, IM Chito Garma, IM Mark Paragua, NM Julio Catalino Sadorra, NM Oliver Barbosa, NM John Paul Gomez, FM Fernie Donguines, IM Ronald Bancod, NM Ronald Dableo, FM Jessie Noel Sales, NM Darwin Laylo, NM Reggie Olay, NM Roland Joseph Perez, NM Mirabeau Maga, FM Elmer Carag, NM Petronio Roca at FM Sander Severino.

Samantala, nagtala ng impresibong performance ang 14-anyos National Master John Paul Gomez nang umiskor ng 5.5 puntos upang ibulsa ang titulo ng unang yugto ng Juniors (Under-20) Active Chess Open na ginanap sa Grandmasters’ Cafe sa Quezon City noong Miyerkules ng gabi.

Umiskor ang pinakabatang junior champ ng bansa sa edad na 13 ng limang panalo at isang draw.

Bunga nito, umusad si Gomez sa Juniors Active grand final sa Mayo 11 kasama ang runner-up na sina Roland Salvador, Irwin Aton (3rd), Rey Jomar Magallanes (4th), Roderick Nava (5th), Joaquin Carlos Banawa (6th), Abraham Baron ( 7th), Carl Espallardo (8th) at Leonard Reyes (9th) at Arnold Dableo (10th).

Nakisosyo rin sa karangalan sa Age Group category sina Nava at Danielle Day Estrada na nanalo sa U-15 (boy and girl); Espallardo at Catherine Perena sa U-17 at Bayron at Kathryn Ann Cruz sa U-19.