GM Gomez captures top spot in Battle of Grandmasters

MANILA, Philippines –  After representing the country in back-to-back World Chess Olympiads in the past, Grandmaster John Paul Gomez was keen on competing in the prestigious chess tournament the third time around after missing action in the event two years ago. 

Gomez made his move in attaining that goal Wednesday, June 25, after subduing  International Master Joel Pimentel to secure top spot after Round 7 of the Battle of the Grandmasters National Chess Championships. 

Playing black, the 28-year-old chess player, who bagged two silvers and a bronze medal in the 2013 Indonesia Southeast Asian Games, outplayed his rival in 24 moves of a Slav Defense in vaulting from third to solo first place at the Philippine Sports Commission dining hall inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.     

Gomez remained undefeated after seven rounds and was on top of the 12-man field with 15 points, one point ahead of veteran GM Eugene Torre, at 61 the oldest player in the event, who settled for  a gentleman’s draw with GM Roger Barcenilla following 30 moves of a Slav Defense.  

Asia’s first grandmaster was a half-point ahead of erstwhile leader IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia and soon-to-be Woman International Master Janelle Mae Frayna following a thrilling duel between two up and coming players.

The bespectacled Garcia suffered his first loss in the series serving as national team tryouts for the World Chess Olympiad in Tromso, Norway in August after he failed to crack Frayna’s solid play with the white pieces and fell in 42 moves of an English Opening.   

“Nag-blunder si Pimentel in the endgame kaya I would have a two-bishop advantage if he did not resign,” said Gomez, 28, who saw action in the 2008 Olympiad in Dresden, German and the 2010 edition in Khanty Mansiysk, Russia. 

He missed the last Olympiad in Istanbul, Turkey two years ago, which he attributed to his lackluster form during that period as he looked after his ill father.   

“Hopefully, I can make it again to the Olympiad in Norway,” added Gomez, whose father died early last month of a heart attack while competing in the POC-PSC Philippine National Games chess competition.

After winning the last two rounds in succession, Garcia said he wanted to secure his first GM norm by getting his third full point in four rounds of play so went all-out against Frayna until he succumbed to time pressure and overlooked possible winning lines.

Frayna was scheduled to play Torre as of posting time yesterday. 

Holding on to fifth place was FIDE Master Paulo Bersamina, who had 12 points despite losing to GM Rogelio Antonio Jr., who prevailed with black after 33 moves of Caro-Kann Defense of the meet organized and sanctioned by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines.   

GM Darwin Laylo, who defeated National Master Roel Abelgas in 24 moves of a Gruenfeld Defense, Barcenilla and IM Oliver Dimakiling, who drew with GM Richard Bitoon in 40 moves of another English Opening, shared sixth to eighth places with 10.5 points each.

NCFP executive director, GM Jayson Gonzales, said that two seats on the national men’s team are up for grabs in the 11-round series with three slots reserved for GMs Julio Catalino Sadorra, Oliver Barbosa and Wesley So.

Gonzales said the NCFP was still pinning its hopes on So changing his mind despite the fact he has publicly announced that he has accepted to be one of the coaches of Team USA in the competition.  

He said there have been precedents where a chesser has coached another team while also simultaneously playing for his or her national squad in the Olympiad. – Rappler.com