Emperado, Turqueza score reversals

MANILA, Philippines - Fast-rising Emmanuel Emperado and Mari Joseph Turqueza provided the big opening day reversals by humbling their respective grandmaster rivals while the lesser lights pulled off a number of draws at the start of the Manny Pacquiao Cup Asian Continental Chess Championships at the Midas Hotel Saturday night.

Emperado, son of former Olympian Mila, shocked Mongolian GM Bayarsaikhan Gundavaa while Turqueza, a FIDE Master, stunned Vietnamese GM Dao Thien Hai in a pair of stirring upset wins in the early going of the tournament bankrolled by the newly re-elected Sarangani Rep. himself.

The tournament was actually delayed for more than two hours in deference to the expected arrival of Pacquiao, who, however, begged off at the last minute due to a more pressing concern.

GM John Paul Gomez, ranked 20th in a field of 77, stamped his class over Malaysian IM Jimmy Liew to arrange a second round match with unfancied Indonesian Taher Theolifus.

Emperado, rated only 2313, hopes to carry the momentum of his inspiring first round win as he clashes with Indian GM Gopal G. N., who won over untitled Chinese Mu Ke, while Turqueza will tackle another Indian GM Subramanian Arun Prasad, who trounced IM Ronald Bancod, in the second round of the event backed by corporate sponsors Café Puro, Alaxan, Oriental and Motolite.

Former Olympiad veteran IM Barlo Nadera, toting a rating of 2388, held third seed Indian GM Krishnan Sasikiran (2669) to a stunning draw in a board encounter while David Elorta, FM Randy Segarra, Noel dela Cruz and IM Chito Garma likewise drew with their respective fancied rivals.

Elorta split the point with 11th seed Indian GM Baskaran Adhiban, Segarra drew with No. 13 Uzbek GM Marat Dzhumaev, dela Cruz forced No. 15 Filipino GM Joey Antonio to a standoff, as did Garma against No. 16 Indonesian GM Susanto Megaranto.

Top seed Vietnamese GM Le Quang Liem beat compatriot FM Tran Tuan Minh, No. 2 Chinese GM Li Chao smashed Ganesan Akash of India, No. 4 Indian GM Parimargan Negi waylaid IM Oliver Dimakiling, and No. 6 Indian GM M Lalith Babu grounded FM Fernie Donguines.