Mandaluyong stops Tanauan, grabs solo lead

TAGAYTAY — Grandmaster-candidate Mark Paragua outplayed FIDE Master Fernie Donguines as Mandaluyong swept past Tanauan, 4-0, and into the solo lead Friday after seven rounds of the 14th Asian Cities Chess Championship at the Tagaytay International Convention Center here.

It was the second straight shutout victory by the Mandaluyong chessers, who also blanked Sanaa of Yemen in the sixth round, to move on top with 19.5 points with two rounds left in the event.

They dislodged erstwhile leader Guangzhou of China, which drubbed Jakarta of Indonesia, 3-1, falling to second place with 19 points.

Paragua, the country’s triple gold medalist in the Vietnam Southeast Asian Games last December, opened strongly with the white pieces and completed the rout over Fide Master Fernie Donguines in 35 moves of a King’s Indian game.

Fellow IM Idelfonso Datu then used the Alekhine Defense to outwit Rolando Nolte in 57 moves on board 2.

IM Richard Bitoon and Rolly Martinez also handily won over Tanauan’s Teodulfo Nones and Gabriel Layesa on boards 3 and 4, respectively.

Pasay City, starring the 1-2 punch of International Master Barlo Nadera and Oliver Dimakiling, sustained its giant-killing spree in round 6 by toppling defending champion Pavlodar of Kazakhstan, 2.5-1.5. It also nipped Tehran of Iran in the next round, 2.5-1.5.

The Pasay bets remained in the hunt for the prestigious Dubai Cup as they stood alone in third spot with 18 points in the event backed by the Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Tourism, Philippine Sports Commission, League of Cities of the Philippines, STI, Chess Center for Asia, Character and Tagaytay Haven hotels.

Mandaluyong and Pasay were set to collide in the eighth round scheduled late Friday in a match that could very well decide the champion of the chessfest which attracted 19 cities from 15 countries.

Pavlodar fashioned out a 2.5-1.5 win over host Tagaytay, which came into the round tied second to fourth places with Mandaluyong and Pasay City, all toting 15.5 points each.