Gomez wrests back lead with 1 round left in Battle of Chess GMs

Manolo Pedralvez

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Gomez wrests back lead with 1 round left in Battle of Chess GMs
Playing with precision with white, John Paul Gomez methodically dismantled Janelle Mae Frayna's Gruenfeld Defense in 51 moves and wrested the lead back

MANILA, Philippines – After Janelle Mae Frayna stunned Grandmasters Richard Bitoon and Rogelio Antonio Jr. and International Master Lester Pimentel in previous rounds, GM John Paul Gomez knew not to take the newly-titled Woman international Master lightly. 

Playing with precision with white, Gomez methodically dismantled Frayna’s Gruenfeld Defense in 51 moves and wrested the lead back in the penultimate round Friday, June 27, of the Battle of Grandmasters-National Chess Championships. 

The 28-year-old defending champion remained undefeated in the tournament after 10 rounds and led the 12-man field with 21 points going into the final round Saturday, June 28, of the competition serving as national team qualifiers to the World Chess Olympiad in Tromso, Norway in August.

Eugene Torre, 62, the overnight leader who celebrated his 40th anniversary yesterday as Asia’s first grandmaster, settle for a quiet draw in 32 moves of a Bogo Indian with GM Darwin Laylo and slipped to second spot with 20 points. 

FIDE Master Paulo Bersamina, the youngest player in the event at 16, conquered IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia in 46 moves of a Nimzo Indian and was all alone in third place with 19.5 points in the competition organized and sanctioned by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines. 

Garcia, who held the lead briefly after stunning Antonio in the fifth round, dropped to  fourth in a tie at 16.5 points apiece with Antonio, who subdued National Master Roel Abelgas in 22 moves of a Modern Benoni.

“Medyo napag-aralan ko po yong defense ni Janelle kaya handa ako dito (I was able to study Janelle’s defensive tactic so I was ready for it),” said Gomez, 28, a native of Binan, Laguna, who is seeking his third trip to the Olympiad after representing the country in the 2008 and 2010 editions of the chessfest.

Although a pawn down, Gomez had two active bishops against Frayna’s knight and bishop and  threatening to mate when his female rival was forced to resign. 

He can secure his ticket to the Tromso Olympiad plus the P100,000 ($2,285) top prize assuming he beats Garcia in the final round.

Torre takes on Bersamina in round 11 in what promises to be an engaging encounter between the oldest and youngest player in the tournament with  a seat on a the national team at stake. 

The NCFP has reserved the first three slots for GMs Julio Catalino Sadorra, Oliver Barbosa and Wesley So, who has committed to be a coach of Team USA in the Olympiad.

NCFP executive director Jayson Gonzale, however, reiterated that So can still also play for the country in the event if he wants while retaining his coaching role with the American squad. – Rappler.com

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