GM Anton Filipov wins the 4th Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Cup (PGMA)

In a tournament that marred by some controversy and played in some of the most harsh of weather condition, the 4th edition of the President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Cup (PGMA) saw a photo finish after the ninth and final round with five players ended up tied for first place with identical 6.5 points. GM Anton Filipov of Uzbekistan, GM Ngoc Truong Son of Vietnam, GM Ehsan Ghaemmaghami of Iran and GM Narayan Gopal Geetha of India had to settle the issue via tiebreak points. But it is the third seed Filipov who scored with the most superior tiebreak points that gave him the rights to bag the championship cup. Filipov, however, had to share the top prize of $6,000 equally with the other top four finishers. Filipov finished the tournament undefeated with four wins and five draws.

The nine round Swiss-system tournament which offers a total prize fund of $40,000 is named in honor of the Philippines 14th and current president, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. The time control of 90 minutes for the whole game with an increment of 30 seconds per move starting from move 1 was applied and draws are not allowed before the completion of Black’s 30th move unless by the repetition of position rule.The PGMA cup is organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) for 4th straight year.

On the other side of the story. A strong typhoon hits Manila Saturday morning, creating a massive and devastating flash floods in most Metro Manila area and surrounding provinces, prompting the organizers to suspend the tournament for one day. The tournament resumes Monday but six local players, including GM elect Ronald Dableo and International Master Barlo Nadera failed to show up for round 4 and they were declared lost by default. The players lodged an appeal with the organizers but their appeal was turned down. Eventually, either by protest or due to heavy flooding itself, some of the players decided to withdraw from the tournament. Also defending champion and Asia's first ever grandmaster, Eugenio Torre saw his withdrawal from the tournament after seven rounds. After settling for five consecutive draws followed by two straight defeats in the hands of his lower rated opponents, many of them untitled, Torre thought he had enough and begged off from continuing.



Final Standings:


1 GM FILIPPOV Anton UZB 2595 6,5
2 GM NGUYEN Ngoc Truong Son VIE 2589 6,5
3 GM GHAEMMAGHAMI Ehsan IRI 2579 6,5
4 GM GAGUNASHVILI Merab GEO 2564 6,5
5 GM GEETHA Narayan Gopal IND 2598 6,5
6 GM MCHEDLISHVILI Mikhael GEO 2613 6,0
7 GM ANTONIO Rogelio Jr. PHI 2557 6,0
8 IM DIMAKILING Oliver PHI 2434 6,0
9 GM VILLAMAYOR Buenaventura PHI 2426 5,5
10 GM WONG Meng Kong SIN 2403 5,5
11 GM KOTANJIAN Tigran ARM 2553 5,5
12 GM GOMEZ John Paul PHI 2521 5,5
13 IM BITOON Richard PHI 2490 5,5
14 GM ISMAGAMBETOV Anuar KAZ 2528 5,5
15 GM DAS Neelotpal IND 2471 5,5
16 SENADOR Emmanuel PHI 2367 5,5
17 GM GONZALES Jayson PHI 2457 5,5
18 IM DABLEO Ronald PHI 2417 5,0
19 GM LAYLO Darwin PHI 2537 5,0
20 GM KOSTENKO Pyotr KAZ 2491
21 GM DAO Thien Hai VIE 2542 5,0
22 GM LI Shilong CHN 2531 5,0
23 IM NOLTE Rolando PHI 2424 5,0
24 ANDADOR Rolando PHI 2260 4,5
25 OLAY Edgar Reggie PHI 2323 4,5
26 IM GARMA Chito PHI 2331 4,5
27 GM PARAGUA Mark PHI 2501 4,5
28 MACALA Allan PHI 2266 4,5
29 FM CARLOS Leonardo PHI 2334 4,5
30 MORAZO John Ranel PHI 2172 4,5
31 IM TIRTO INA 2407 4,5 2393
32 SEGARRA Randy PHI 2300 4,5
33 SEVILLANO Voltaire PHI 2358 4,5
34 CAUSO Deniel PHI 2334 4,5
35 FM PASCUA Haridas PHI 2310 4,5
36 WGM NADIG Krutika IND 2273 4,0
37 LUMANCAS Lyndon PHI 0 4,0
38 BAGAMASBAD Efren PHI 2311 4,0
39 DELA CRUZ Richard PHI 2155 4,0
40 ELORTA David PHI 2364 3,5
41 ABELGAS Roel PHI 2180 3,5
42 PORTUGALERA Ric PHI 2221 3,5
43 ALISANGCO Nicomedes PHI 0 3,5
44 GARMA Edgardo PHI 2345 3,5
45 LABAY Rainier PHI 2248 3,5
46 JORDA Danilo PHI 0 3,5
47 BRANZUELA Ali PHI 2288 3,0
48 RIVERA Albert PHI 2172 3,0
49 CORDERO Angel PHI 0 3,0
50 POLAO Ben PHI 0 3,0
51 GM TORRE Eugenio PHI 2535 2,5
52 IM NADERA Barlo PHI 2400 2,0
53 LEGASPI Edmundo PHI 2158 1,5
54 YULO Gerardo PHI 0 1,5
55 DIAZ Conrado PHI 2254 1,0
56 GEPIGA Glicel PHI 0 1,0