Torre virtual champ as rivals fall

Grandmaster Eugene Torre banked on his vast experience to stop National Master Jayson Gonzales’ romp and practically wrap up the crown in the National Open Chess Championship yesterday at the Social Security System headquarters in Quezon City.

Torre, a veteran in world chess the past 27 years, solidified his queenside play and earned a passed pawn on the way to a 41-move victory over Gonzales in their French Advance game that hiked his output to seven points.

That gave him a full-point advantage over his closest pursuers going into the final round of the Wella Balsam-sponsored tournament as erstwhile co-leaders GM Joey Antonio, International Master Richard Bitoon and NM Allan Sayson dropped their respective Round 10 matches.

The 49-year-old chess great will only need to draw his match today with Sayson to win the P120,000 top purse. Sayson, meanwhile, needs a half-point to get an international master norm.

Antonio went a bishop down in the closing minutes of the first time-control, losing a crucial point to Fide Master Jesse Noel Sales in 42 moves of an English Opening.

Bitoon lost to NM Emmanuel Senador in 58 moves of a Reti Opening while Sayson bowed to FM Idel Datu in 33 moves of a Catalan.

GM Bong Villamayor caught up with Antonio, Bitoon and Sayson at second with six points apiece after utilizing his pet game French Winawer to beat International Master Chito Garma in 50 moves.

Gonzales, who earlier stunned Antonio and Villamayor, was stalled at 5.5 points.

In women’s play, Joann Toledo of University of Santo Tomas joined WIM Beverly Mendoza at the top after blanking Minda Flores in 46 moves of a Scotch Game. Mendoza, a consistent leader in the past nine outings, absorbed a sorry loss to WNM Joy Lomibao in 24 moves of Queen’s Gambit Declined.

Toledo collides with Aileen Riza Canos, who has 4.0 points, of De La Salle University while Mendoza takes on Daisy Rivera of University of the East.