Bitoon advances; Cabe stalls Antonio

National Master Richard Bitoon dominated NM Roland Joseph Perez for the second straight time to barge into the round of 16 yesterday even as NM Arlan Cabe hung tough with another gutsy stand against Grandmaster Rogelio Antonio, Jr. in the third round of the Chess Pambansa Millennium Grand Prix at the PNB Finance Center in Pasay City.

While 20 players, including third seed International Master Bong Villamayor and former Asian Juniors champion Nelson Mariano II, had to endure the pressure to salvage at least a playoff for a fourth round berth, Bitoon had an easy time advancing as he whipped Perez in 23 moves of an English Opening.

Antonio, the only GM left in the fold following the ouster of top seed Eugene Torre, typified the big guns' struggle as he was held to another draw by the stubborn Cabe, who sacrificed a pawn in the opening to seize the initiative in their French game.

But Antonio, playing out of Quezon City, neutralized his rival's attack by giving up a knight for three passed pawns to gain counterplay but agreed to halve the point on the 45th with no clear chances in sight.

"Nagbigay na ako ng isang pawn sa opening para maka-develop ang pieces ko. Kaya lang mabilis siyang naka-recover para dito sa tabla," said Cabe, a corporate affairs employee of the host bank.

"Medyo lamang ako sa endgame kaya lang mahirap ipanalo kaya pumayag na ako sa tabla para pahinga para sa playoff namin bukas," said the 38-year-old Antonio. "Bukas medyo lamang na ako dahil batak ako nang kaunti sa active chess."

Others who advanced were NM Mirabeau Maga, NM Ernesto Absin of Butuan City, IM Ricky De Guzman of Cainta, Rizal, IM Barlo Nadera of Malabon, Marikina City's NM Enrique Paciencia, Jr., and NM Cesar Mariano.

Like Cabe and Antonio, NMs Carlito Lavega of Cadiz City and Edwin Tan forced a two-game, 30-minute playoff today with hard-earned wins.

After losing their first round matches, Lavega bounced back with a 45-move win over 10th seed IM Nelson Mariano II in a King's Indian encounter, while Tan struck back with a 41-move win over NM Ernesto Fernandez.

Also forcing playoffs for round of 16 berths were third seed IM Bong Villamayor, IM Rico Mascarinas, NM Darwin Laylo and qualifier Jasper Rom.

Villamayor salvaged a 56-move draw with NM Petronio Roca in their French game; Mascarinas beat NM Idelfonso Datu in 80 moves of a Reti; Laylo held IM Luis Chiong to a 63-move standoff in a King's Indian, while Rom, a differently-abled chesser whose stint here is sponsored by the Social Security System, forced a 71-move draw with NM Efren Bagamasbad in their French game.

The best-of-two, 30-minute active chess playoff will also begin at 1 p.m. today.