So whips V’mayor, leads by full point

GM Wesley So trounced GM Bong Villamayor in a Queen Gambit game to pull away from GM Eugene Torre and a charging IM Richard Bitoon after eight rounds of the Battle of GMs chess championship at the City State Hotel in Manila yesterday.

Slowed down by three straight draws, the 14-year-old So regained his winning ways, showing his deep understanding of the Queen’s Gambit line to essay a 50-move win over the veteran Singapore-based campaigner.

That raised the Dubai Open champion’s total to 6.5 points for a one-point lead over Torre and Bitoon heading to the last three rounds of the 11-round championship staking P200,000 to the winner.

Torre, just half-a-point behind at the start of the round, failed to match So’s win as he settled for a draw with IM Oliver Barbosa in 56 moves of the Nimzo-Indian Defense for 5.5 points.

That was the same output put in by Bitoon, who gained on the fancied bets after whipping NM Hamed Nouri to move into contention in the tournament organized by the National Chess Federation of the Phils.

Bitoon tests So’s mettle in the ninth round.

GM Joey Antonio, getting back into the thick of things after a sluggish start, was also stalled by a draw with  IM Julio Catalino Sadorra after 32 moves of the Nimzo-Indian for joint fourth with IM John Paul Gomez with 5 points. Gomez halved the point with GM Jayson Gonzales in 41 moves of the Queen’s Gambit Chigorin Defense.

NM Rolando Nolte emerged as the day’s only other winner as he downed FM Fernie Donguines in 31 moves of the English Opening. He moved up to solo sixth with 4.5 points.

In women’s play, Catherine Perena drew with Ylem Jose in 60 moves of the Bishop’s opening to stay half-a-point ahead of Shercila Cua.

Perena has 6.5 points while Cua also split the point with  Kimberly Cunanan in 48 moves of the Benoni to stay in contention with six points.

Cua’s younger sister, Sherily, demolished  Cristy Bernales in 37 moves of the French to catch up with Jose at 5.5 points.

In other matches, Cheradee Camacho humbled Enerose Magno in  48 moves of the Sicilian and Beverly Mendoza  bested Jedara Docena in 32 moves of the Sicilian.