Datu advances to next round

Fide Master Idelfonso Datu barged into the finals as he settled for a quick draw with National Master Darwin Laylo of Marikina City yesterday in the penultimate round of the National Open Chess Championship at the Greenhills Shopping Center in San Juan.

Despite the standoff, his third straight after an amazing seven-game winning streak, Datu remained at the helm with 8.5 points as closest pursuers International Master Richard Bitoon, NM Edgar Reggie Olay, NM Jayson Gonzales, NM Yves Rañola, NM Allan Sayson, NM Jerome Balico, IM Chito Garma, FM Jessie Noel Sales also decided to draw their matches.

While the leaders opted to play it safe, NM Emmanuel Senador of Iloilo went for a win and got one at the expense of IM Enrique Paciencia, Jr., last year’s Millennium Grand Prix runner-up, in 24 moves of a Queen’s Gambit Declined, creating a 10-way logjam at second spot on identical scores of eight points.

In striking distance for slots in the finals, where Grandmasters Eugene Torre, Rogelio Antonio, Jr. and Buenaventura Villamayor are seeded, were NM Mirabeau Maga, FM Fernie Donguines and IM Mark Paragua.

In the distaff side, unheralded Rosela Joya continued her impressive showing as she downed Anna Paola Castillo in 41 moves of a Sicilian Defense, pushing her on top along with erstwhile co-leaders Daisy Rivera and Joan Toledo, both drawing their matches in the eighth round.