All is set for RP's Battle of Grandmasters

by Manny Benitez

EVERYTHING is ready for the Battle of Grandmasters being organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines, NCFP executive director Willy Abalos has announced. The much-awaited tournament—the first of its kind under the present dispensation—is scheduled to be held from April 19 to 30 at the Manila Pavilion on UN Avenue in Ermita.

Abalos told The Weekender that 12 leading male players, including six of the country’s seven grandmasters, have each made a definite commitment to play in the tournament.

On the distaff side, he said 12 of a short list of 14 amazons have made the same commitment.

Here is the lineup for the Men’s Division: GMs Wesley So (2540), Mark Paragua (2537), Joey Antonio (2529), Eugene Torre (2519), Jayson Gonzales (2467), and Bong Villamayor (2425); IMs John Paul Gomez (2464) and Julio Catalino Sadorra (2455); FM Fernie Donguines (2362); and NMs Rolando Nolte (2420), Oliver Barbosa (2403) and Hamed Nouri (2392).

Here are the women who have pledged to join the mixed tournament: Catherine Pereña (2334), Sherily (2107) and Shercila Cua (2201), Rulp Ylem Jose (2044), Jenny Rose Paloma, Jedara Docena, Aices Salvador (1998), WIM Beverly Mendoza (2072), Chardine Cheradee Camacho (2106), Kimberly Jane Cunanan, Christy Lamiel Bernales, and Enerose Magno. Abalos said he was also inviting Loreshyl Cuison and WFM Sheerie Joy Lomibao, but he had not heard from them.

On the other development around the Metro,

HARIDAS PASCUA, 15, scored a perfect 7/7 to top the First Mayor Alfredo Lim Cup Rapid yesterday in Manila.

Favorite Raymond Salcedo ended up second with 6.5, followed by Christopher Castellano, Gary Legaspi and Jan Emmanuel Garcia.