Arroyo grabs solo lead in national junior chess tourney

Mapua Tech mainstay Christian Arroyo defeated erstwhile co-leader Edsel Montoya of Bacolod City in 37 moves of a Queen’s Gambit to grab the lead after the fifth round of the 2004 National Junior Championship at the Marketplace Shopping Mall in Mandaluyong City.

In the other featured match, unheralded Earicho Eleserio of San Sebastian College upset national master Roderick Nava to share second place with NM Oliver Barbosa and Julius Joseph de Ramos who drew their match on the top board.

IM Mark Paragua upended Froilan Bolico after 26 moves of a Caro Kann Game to remain in contention with four points for the boys’ division title of the event organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) headed by its president Congressman-elect Mat Defensor and sponsored by chairman Ed Madrid of Primanila Realty Development Corporation, in cooperation with Rizal Technological University and Marketplace Shopping Mall.

In the distaff side, Aices Salvador of University of the East beat reigning national under-18 champion Jayveelyn Fronda to share the lead with top-seed Loreshyl Cuizon of RTU with 4.5 points.