Antonio goes thru wringer, edges Mariano

Grandmaster Rogelio Antonio, Jr., hurdled the biggest stumbling block to his title bid, outplaying IM Nelson Mariano II last night and advancing to the quarterfinal round of the Chess Pambansa Millennium Grand Prix at the PNB Financial Center in Pasay City.

Held to a fighting draw by the former Asian Juniors champion Tuesday, the 38-year-old Antonio, a noted e4 player, opted for a d4 opening and engaged Mariano in a double-edged King's Indian game.

The Quezon City-backed Antonio went quality up in a middlegame skirmish but had to thwart his rival's passed pawns in the queenside with accurate rook moves to fashion out the victory in 41 moves.

Joining Antonio are third seed IM Bong Villamayor and NMs Idelfonso Datu, Cesar Mariano of Iloilo and NM Enrique Paciencia.

Villamayor repeated over IM Barlo Nadera in 80 moves of a Queen's Gambit-Declined; Datu settled for a quick 14-move draw with qualifier Allan Cantonjos of an English Opening to seal a 1.5-0.5 match win; while Mariano fought his way to a 36-move draw with NM Ernesto Fernandez in a Sicilian encounter, 1.5-0.5.

Cebu province's NM Richard Bitoon humbled FIDE Master Chito Garma in 44 moves of a French Defense, a day after escaping with a controversial 93-move draw which the latter placed under protest. -Joey Villar