Paragua leads RP chessers romp

SINGAPORE — Filipino players, led by reigning co-champion grandmaster Mark Paragua, got off to an auspicious start in the 2005 Singapore Masters and Challengers International Open chess championships at the Hotel Royal here yesterday.

Paragua whipped Vietnamese women’s international master Nguyen Le Thao in 31 moves of a Queen’s Pawn Opening.

Among the other Filipino bets winning their opening matches in the tourney were GM Nelson Mariano II, GM-candidate Jayson Gonzales, international master Richard Bitoon, IM Luis Chiong IV, IM Oliver Dimakiling, Singapore-based FIDE master Julio Catalino Sadorra, national master Darwin Laylo, 12-year-old FM Wesley So and NM Marlon Bernardino.

Mariano won over compatriot NM Edmundo Legaspi, Gonzales over Vietnamese WIM Dang Bich Ngoc, Bitoon beat Ravindran Shanmugam of India, Chiong outclassed local bet Zheng Yuan Ter Chua, Dimakiling defeated another local bet Jordan Yap; Sadorra thumped Singapore FM Daniel Ho, Laylo whipped Christer Aplin also of Singapore, So overcame Chinese WGM Zhao Xue and Bernardino shocked countryman Enrique Paciencia.

So’s win over Zhao was the biggest upset in the day.

In the Challengers section, Filipino players were also off to a good start.

Jenny Mayor beat Timothy Chan, Alfredo Paez defeated Mathew Ching, Leo Daylo Jr. topped Melodies Sing, Michael Adarlo edged Ian Lee, Janette Arnuco nipped Linson Lim, Ramon Manon-Og subdued Weng Kin Chan, Rodolfo Panopio ripped Paer Ching and Rustum Tolentino beat Jonathan.