Wesley sweeps final matches, seals 3-peat

MANILA, Philippines - GM Wesley So swept his last two matches, including a 20-move victory over Ronald Dableo in the final round to rule the Phoenix Petroleum Battle of GMs national chess championships for the third straight year at the Character Hotel in Tagaytay yesterday.

The 16-year-old So downed Oliver Dimakiling in the 10th round then finished off Dableo in only 20 moves of the Larsen opening to clinch the crown with an 8.5-point aggregate over 11 rounds.

So, who also dominated the first two stagings of the event in Manila and Dapitan City, took the top prize of P200,000.

Dresden Olympian GM John Paul Gomez, who led So by half-a-point heading into the last two rounds, settled for a draw with IM Richard Bitoon in 26 moves of the French defense to settle for runner-up honors with 7.5 points. He received P100,000.

GM Rogelio Antonio Jr., who recently topped the PSC chairman Harry Angping Cup, finished joint third with IM Julio Catalino Sadorra with seven points. Sadorra subdued FM Haridas Pascua in 60 moves of the King’s Indian. Each got P60,000.

The US-based Sadorra also obtained his second GM norm. He gained his first during the President Arroyo Cup last 2008.

“I’m very happy to win this tournament again. So far, this is a very good year for me,” said So.

Sharing the spotlight in the tournament, organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) in cooperation with Phoenix Petroleum and the Tagaytay City government, was Rulp Ylem Jose, who bagged the women’s title over pre-tournament favorite Chardine Cheradee Camacho and former champion Catherine Perena.

Jose, the 20-year commerce graduate from FEU, capped her campaign with a 25-move victory over Aices Salvador in their Slav encounter.

Camacho settled for a draw with Jedara Docena in 39 moves of the Sicilian, while Perena won over Jenny Rose Palomo in 27 moves of another Slav.

NCFP secretary-general and Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino awarded the trophies and cash prizes to the top finishers, assisted by NCFP treasurer Red Dumuk and executive/events director Willie Abalos.