Top Seeded GM's, slowly regaining their form

Mandaluyong City Hall

Although there is still eight rounds left, I can finally heave some sigh of relief. All GM's who see action in the tourney barge into top ten after 9 rounds. As I've stated previously, I'd like to see our RP team composed of battle hardened, well experience GM's/IM to represent the country in Dresden Olympiad. Of course I'm not down playing the capabilities of our other talents but I say with such young guns like GM Wesley So, Paragua, Gonzales, Laylo, IM's Sadorra, Gomezs these boys are the future of Philippine Chess. It's good to see that IM Sadorra is fighting back. He is now tied for 10-14 place. IM Gomez who is well ahead of the pack is a mile 2 points ahead of second placer and top seeded GM Wesley So. Not surprisingly since IM Gomez, after So, could be the next star of Philippine Chess.

NATIONAL FINALS - MEN Rank after round 9 Rank Name Rtg Pts 1 IM GOMEZ John Paul 2457 8½ 2 GM SO Wesley 2577 6½ 3 GM VILLAMAYOR Buenaventura 2469 6 4 IM GARMA Chito 2346 6 5 GM GONZALES Jayson 2524 5 6 IM BANCOD Ronald 2375 5 7 GM LAYLO Darwin 2504 5 8 CARLOS Leonardo 0 5 9 GM PARAGUA Mark 2523 4½ 10 NODADO Jerry 0 4 11 IM NOLTE Rolando 2522 4 12 IM SADORRA Julio Catalino 2470 4 13 IM BITOON Richard 2439 3½ 14 HABLA Jony 0 3½ 15 IM NADERA Barlo 2401 3½ 16 DELA CRUZ Noel 0 3 17 PASCUA Haridas 2174 2 18 GATUS Edmundo 0 2