Mark Paragua's 11th straight US title

More goodies keeps pouring in for GM Mark Paragua. Barely a day before we were informed about Paragua's 10th consecutive tournament win in the US, we just have received another one that he's closing in for his dozen title. His eleventh came in Marshall Chess Club also in New York City. Paragua has been a regular of Marshall Chess Club for some years now, winning many tournaments (mostly the top seed) in the process, punished every IMs and NMs that gets on his way and I'm pretty sure that Mark Paragua is already a household name among the club members and looked up at him with awe and wonder.

BY: MARLON BERNARDINO

FILIPINO GRANDMASTER MARK CALLANO PARAGUA continued his winning streak in the US as he emerged over-all champion in the recently held New York June Action at the Chess Center of famous Marshall Chess Club in New York, USA on Saturday (Friday night in US time).
Paragua, the 1998 Disneyland, France World Rapid Under 14-champion bested American International Master (IM) Jay Bonin in the fourth round then proceed to a draw with Russian International Master (IM) Ildar Salakhutdinov in the fifth and final round to secure the over-all win.
The 2003 Vietnam Southeast Asian Games most bemedalled athlete Paragua, who beat Isaac Barayev, Vladimir Polyakin and Leif Pressman in the first three rounds finished with unbeaten 4.5 points on account of four wins and a draw in five outings.

Paragua,whose stint here is being supported by National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) president/ chairman Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr., Filway Marketings Inc. CEO/ President Hector "Chito" O. Tagaysay and New York Immigration lawyer Geronimo "Gerry' Albano is currently preparing for the 38th Annual World Open Chess Championships slated on June 29 to July 5 at the Valley Forge Convention Plaza, Scanticon and Radisson Hotels in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, USA, which offers projected prize fund of $250,000 with $175,000 minimum guaranteed purse in the week-long event organized by Continental Chess Association (CCA) husband and wife tandem Mr. and Mrs.Bill and Brenda Goichberg.
Another Filipino entry (here in Marshall Chess Club) International Master (IM) Renato Naranja wound up into a tie for 14th to 25th placers in the huge group of 2.5 pointers in the 38 player's field.

The New Jersey-based Naranja, the 1958 Philippine Junior Champion, the 1965 Philippine Adult Champion and 1969 Singapore Asian Zonal Champion lost to American Michael Hehir in the final round here in Marshall Chess Club.

It was Mark Paragua's eleventh straight title in the United States following his triumphs in the 10 Grand Prix Points Tonight (June 3), New York May Open (May 29 to 30), Original 4 rated Games Tonight (May 27 ), Prove Your Point (May 22), May Marshall Masters (May 18), Marshall Sunday Action (May 9), Marshall Chess Challenge , Saturday Game 60 ( May 5), Marshall Chess Challenge April Grand Prix (April 24 to 25), Original 4 rated Games Tonight ( April 15) and Original 4 rated Games Tonight (April8).

It was Mark Paragua's first US tournament this year was the tough and prestigious Philadelphia Open Chess Championships last March 31 to April 4 which topped by former World Championships candidate American GM and Russian-born Gata Kamsky.Kamsky finished with 7 points, the same output of Grandmasters (GMs) Alexander Stripunsky, Ray Robson and Sergey Kudrin.

Paragua finished with 6.5 points in the company of GMs Jaan Ehlvest, Alexander Shabalov, Alexander Ivanov, Amon Solomon Simotuwe and IM Robert Andrew Hungaski.
Manila frequent-visitor American GM Varuzhan Akobian wound up into a tie for 11th to 20th placers along with Chicago-based Pinoy IM Angelo Young with 6 points each.

Mark Paragua's 10th title in the US

GM Mark Paragua is currently collecting some goodies in the US by winning tournaments after tournaments there, the latest is the 10 Grand Prix Points Tonight in Marshall Chess Club New York, US. This finally confirmed why Paragua skipped the recently held Battle of Grandmasters in Tagaytay City. It is reported that Paragua just won his tenth straight trophy. Details by Marlon Bernardino:

Official website

Final standings

FILIPINO GRANDMASTER MARK CALLANO PARAGUA's winning streak continued last June 3 with his victory at the 10 Grand Prix Points Tonight in New York, US, according to the official website yesterday.

The 2003 Vietnam Southeast Asian Games most bemedalled athlete settled a draw with French International Master (IM) Gabriel Battaglini in the fourth and final round to finished with unbeaten record 3.5 points on three wins and a draw in the four-round event, the same output of Battaglini and Russian International Master (IM) Ildar Salakhutdinov.
Paragua, whose stint here is being supported by National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) president/ chairman Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr., Filway Marketings Inc. CEO/ President Hector "Chito" O. Tagaysay and New York Immigration lawyer Geronimo "Gerry' Albano was named as champion after the tiebreak. Paragua, earlier beat Max Yarmolinsky, Teddy Coleman and Adam Samuel Maltese, respectively.

His wife Mary Christine Joyce Dacayo-Paragua was at the tail-end in 31st to 32nd place with no score (zero) in a field of 32 players along with Angelo Gigante.

Meantime, it was Mark's tenth straight title in the United States following his triumphs in the
New York May Open (May 29 to 30), Original 4 rated Games Tonight (May 27 ), Prove Your Point (May 22), May Marshall Masters (May 18), Marshall Sunday Action (May 9), Marshall Chess Challenge , Saturday Game 60 ( May 5), Marshall Chess Challenge April Grand Prix (April 24 to 25), Original 4 rated Games Tonight ( April 15) and Original 4 rated Games Tonight (April 8).

Mark Paragua fund raising simultaneous match

Last Saturday at MERALCO Ortigas, Pasig City, GM Mark Paragua conducted a 16 board fund raising simultaneous games for the benefit of the RP Paralympic chess team scoring 14 wins and 2 draws courtesy of Alexis Elinon of PARA and Ronnie Dellota of MERALCO. In the opening ceremony, 6 specially made Paete chess sets and 1 standard plastic set were turned-over to the PARA Chess Team. GM Mark with Spawn2 presided in the ceremony.

The proceeds of the GM Mark simul were given to the 5 PARA players as advance Christmas gift according to Meralco Chess Club president Rolly Sol Cruz. The next event is on Dec 12, a team tournament featuring MERALCO, BW, PARA and Binan Chess Club.

PARA's Alexis Elinon has been the most consistent of the players who participated in the three simul games he joined by far, posting an impressive record of 1 Win and 2 Draws. He defeated GM Eugene Torre and level his games with GM Jayson Gonzales and GM Mark Paragua.

Paragua wins Pangasinan tourney

Mark Paragua, the 25 years old world simul record holder wanna be, just added one more title to show off before his attempt at breaking the world record later this year. Mark captured the Gov. Espino Rapid chess tournament. Mark should win one or two more tournaments to add to his credibility and his competency before the date of the simul. By mid-November, it's wise if he'll skipped from participating in any tournaments for his preparation. Report by NM Marlon Bernardino:

GM PARAGUA BEATS NM PASCUA; TOPS GOV. ESPINO CHESS; POCKETS P10,000

GM Mark Callano Paragua turned back National Master (NM) Haridas Pascua in the seventh and final round to snare the title and the top prize of P10,000 in the inaugural Gov. Amado T. Espino Jr. Cup Open Rapid Chess Championships at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center in Lingayen, Pangasinan, held over the weekend.

The Tondo, Manila born Paragua, the 2003 Southeast Asian Games most bemedalled athlete prevailed with the white pieces after 40 moves of Reti Opening to finish undefeated in the two-day (October 24 and 25) tournament with a total 6.5 points on account of six wins and a draw, organized by Menard Pulido, the founder/ Vice President, Pangasinan Chess Association; Vice President-NAPCA Northern Luzon, Vice President PACE Northern Luzon and Coordinator of NCFP in Pangasinan.

After winning the first three rounds against the local player here in Pangasinan, Paragua subdued NM Allan Macalla in the fourth, drew with fellow GM Rogelio “Joey”Antonio Jr., in the fifth, then toppled Dick Gicain in the sixth before beating NM Pascua in the seventh round enroute to the championship’s trophy.

Back to earth

Almost but not good enough for GM Mark Paragua. He lost 3 games against his Ukrainian and Greek opponents in both the semi final and sudden death match. Martyn Kravtsiv of Ukraine bags the gold medal.

Final game:

Men

1 Drozdovskij, Yuri (UKR) 1-0 Kravtsiv, Martyn (UKR) Replay the game
2 Paragua, Mark (PHI) 0-1 Banikas, Christos (GRE) Replay the game

Paragua wins World Mind Sports Blitz Preliminary

The quickest thinker of them all! (so far)

GM Mark Paragua surprised everyone by winning the blitz preliminary of the inagural World Mind Sports Games in Beijing, China. Paragua won eight games with one loss and a draw. He wins his first five games before loosing his sixth match. The irony here is Paragua is one of the lowest rated players in the category but come up well ahead on points against other big names in chess like Bu Xiangzhi (15th) and Wang Yue (23rd) of China, Varuzhan Akobian of the USA, Mikhail Gurevich of Turkey and other tough grandmasters with ratings of above 2600. There are 32 total players. It looks like many players did not show up possibly because of the world financial crisis. Philippines had only two participants from the initially announced 5 players.

Standings

1 GM Paragua Mark 8,5
2 GM Banikas Hristos 8,0
3 IM Kravtsiv Martyn 8,0
4 GM Drozdovskij Yuri 8,0
5 GM Gurevich Mikhail 7,5
6 GM Korobov Anton 7,0
7 GM Akobian Varuzhan 6,5
8 GM Le Quang Liem 6,5
9 GM Wang Hao 6,5
10 GM Balogh Csaba 6,5

-Tournament official website

GM Mark Paragua rules 1st Annual Marshall Chess Club New York International!

Here's a piece of good news to all Filipino chess fans and supporters. GM Paragua wins a tournament in New York, the Marshall Chess Club in New York. Paragua will take home the top prize of $4,000.

The final standing is HERE