De Guzman, GM champ in draw
Petron wary of F2’s ability to fight back
International Master Ricky de Guzman battled former world women’s champion Grandmaster (GM) Tan Zhongyi of China to a draw Saturday, but stayed in the middle pack of the 17th Asian Continental Chess Championships at the Tiara Oriental Hotel in Makati.
De Guzman has 3 points after 6 rounds, a full point and a half behind eight players tied for the lead.
“Matapang maglaro,” said the 57-year-old former Asian junior champion, referring to Tan, the 2017 world champion. “Binigay niya rook for a bishop. Hindi ko mai-panalo dahil may mga queen pa kami pareho.”
De Guzman, who returned to the country two years ago after spending 10 years in the United States, has the best score among Filipinos along with GMs John Paul Gomez and Joey Antonio and FIDE Master Mari Joseph Turqueza.
Gomez split the point with GM Tran Tuan Minh of Vietnam, Antonio outplayed compatriot Edsel Montoya while Turqueza upset IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia.
A big group of Filipinos are bunched with 2.5 points. They are GM Darwin Laylo, IM Paulo Bersamina, IM Roderick Nava, IM Haridas Pascua, IM Daniel Quizon, John Merill Jacutina, IM John Marvin Miciano, IM Oliver Dimakiling and Jerad Docena.
Top seed GM Wang Hao of China whipped IM Nodirbek Yakubboev of Uzbekistan to join the crowded leaderboard. He is joined by fellow Chinese GM Wei Yi, Indian GMs Surya Shekhar Ganguly, S.P. Sethuraman and Santosh Gujrathi Vidit, GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov of Uzbekistan and Iranian GM Amin Tabatabaei.
In women’s play, IM Rout Padmini of India opened a one-point lead over the rest of the field after beating WGM Gong Qianyun of Singapore. She now has 5.5 points.
WIM Zhu Jiner of China is in solo second with 4.5 points.
Petron is on the verge of another title sweep in the 2018 Philippine Superliga, but coach Shaq Delos Santos warns his players not to be complacent as they gun for the All-Filipino Conference crown on Tuesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The Blaze Spikers overcame a slow start to defeat the F2 Logistics Cargo Movers, 25-23, 25-11, 25-17, on Saturday in Game 1 of their best-of-three championship series, matching their 13-0 title sweep in the 2015 All-Filipino edition.
But their task doesn’t stop there. “Our goal is to work on our games all the time and we still have at least one more,” said Delos Santos in Filipino. “I’m proud that we were able to match that record, but we still need to work harder (in Game 2).”
Delos Santos added they are wary of F2 Logistics’ capabilities to come back from a loss, especially with a multi-titled champion coach in Ramil De Jesus and his army of players in Aby Maraño, Kim Fajardo, Majoy Baron and Kim Dy.
Expected to come out roaring for Petron is Sis Rondina, who spearheaded the squad in Game 1 with 12 points. Also out to contribute significant numbers are Bernadeth Pons, Remy Palma and Aiza Pontillas.
Rondina said their willingness to learn and win fuel their campaign.
“We’re very patient and hardworking because we want to grow,” said Rondina in Filipino. “We do everything that coach is telling us to do.”
Game 2 is set tomorrow (Tuesday) at the same venue with the Blaze Spikers aiming for their second straight and fourth overall crown.