Paragua smothers Antonio

Standings after seven rounds:

Men’s: Paragua 5.5 points; Gomez, Garma 5; Mariano, Roca 4.5; Torre, Villamayor 4; Sanchez, Antonio 3.5; Bancod, Ranola, Nadera 3; Milagrosa, Barbosa 2.5; Sumngat 1.5; Merelos 1.

Standings after six rounds:

Women’s: Lomibao, Mendoza 5 points; Castellano 4.5; Joya 4; Mariano, 3.5; Cua 3; Castro, Rivera, Abanes, Cruz 2.5; Espallardo, Torres 2; Dela Cruz, Toledo 1.5.

International master Mark Paragua displayed glimpses of the future following a huge upset win over GM Rogelio "Joey" Antonio in the seventh round of the National Chess Championship Grand Finals at the All Asia Center in Paseo de Roxas, Makati yesterday.

Paragua outplayed Antonio in a tense endgame of their Scotch encounter and went on to wrest the lead with 5.5 points going into the eighth round.

The former child prodigy is now ahead of his closest pursuers by half-point with Chito Garma and NM John Paul Gomez currently tied for second and third with five points apiece.

Garma opted for a draw with NM Petronio Roca while Gomez downed NM Joseph Sanchez in 30 moves of a Sicilian.

GM Eugene Torre, meanwhile, inched back into contention following two straight victories in rounds seventh and eighth to be with fellow GM Bong Villamayor at sixth with four points.

Torre, who lost twice in a row, defeated NM Alex Milagrosa in the sixth round and followed it up with another convincing win over IM Barlo Nadera in the seventh round. Villamayor, on the other hand, routed Melvin Merelos in 17 moves of an Old Indian.