Torre, 4 others unbeaten after 3 rounds

TACLOBAN — Grandmaster Eugene Torre defeated National Master Venerando Malinao of Ormoc City after 57 moves of Owens Defense to remain on top with four others after round 3 of Gov. Petilla Invitational chess championship yesterday.

The win was a followup to Torre’s victory over 37th seed Voltaire Sevillano of Cebu after 35 moves of another Owens Defense in Round 1 and 20th seed Carlo Magno Rosaupan of Zamboanga City after 54 moves of the King’s Indian Defense in Round 2.

Torre, the top seed, shared the lead with third seed IM Richard Bitoon of Medellin, Cebu, fourth seed FIDE Master Fernie Donguines of Pasig, seventh seed Jerry Nodado of Cagayan De Oro and No. 71 Giovanni Tabada of Cebu City.

Bitoon beat NM Ric Portagalera, Donguines subdued Cyrilcyroy Jao of Cebu after 45 moves of the Torre Attack, Nodado outplayed local bet Amando Labarda in just 16 moves of King’s Indian Defense while Tabada upset ninth seed NM Mirabeau Maga after 48 moves of the Center Counter.

"Drawish na yong position kaso pinilit niya (NM Maga) ang laro,"said Tabada, sports editor of Sunstar Cebu, who finished co-champion in the 1997 Mandaue Open and wound up in a tie for third in the 1999 Asian Inter-Collegiate Chess Championships in Kuala Lumpur.

Henry Roger Lopez of Davao City surprised sixth seed NM Rolando Nolte of Quezon City ( 68, Ruy Lopez) to lead the group of 2.5 pointers which included FM Oliver Dimakiling of Davao City, NMs Roberto Suelo Jr., Rodolfo Diaz and Alex Milagrosa and Eden Diano of Cebu, Adonis Buenaventura and Rolando Yutuc of Quezon City.