Atotubo mangles Paragua; Datu also unbeaten

Comebacking national master Rodrigo Atotubo taught No. 2 seed international master Mark Paragua a neat lesson on playing under time pressure, hacking out a 26-move victory to keep an unblemished record after five rounds of the National Open Chess Championship at the Greenhills Shopping Center in San Juan.

The 21st ranked Atotubo, back in the country after a brief stint in the tough US Chess Circuit, showed grace under pressure, beating his youthful rival in their Center-Counter match.

Five other bets, including 2000 Istanbul Olympiad veteran NM Idelfonso Datu, remained unscathed.

Datu essayed a 43-move win over junior standout Roland Salvador in a Reti Opening.

NMs Jayson Gonzales, Rolly Martinez, Allan Sayson and Rolando Nolte likewise scored their fifth point.

Gonzales downed NM Cesar Caturla in 30 moves of an English Opening, Martinez trounced Marikina's Darwin Laylo in 56 moves of another Center-Counter, Sayson outlasted NM Mauro Yasay in 55 moves of a French Defense and Nolte turned back NM Ernesto Fernandez in 48 moves of a Ruy Lopez opening.

After a hot four-win start, IM Chito Garma found his bid stalled following a fighting 53-move draw with FIDE Master Jessie Noel Sales in another Reti Opening.

The seventh seeded Garma slid to a share of second spot along with a huge group of chessers with 4.5 points, including Sales and top pick IM Richard Bitoon who waylaid Hamed Nouri in 46 moves of a Ruy Lopez. — Joey Villar