VETERAN IM Chito Garma dealt defending champion GM Rogelio Antonio Jr. a second straight setback to assume the solo lead in the 2017 Battle of GMs-National Chess Championships at Alphaland Makati Place Mall in Ayala Ave.
Garma, one of the country’s strongest players never to have earned a GM title, outwitted Antonio in 53 moves of the Caro Kann for his second straight win in the 12-player tournament being organized by the Natiobal Chess Federation of the Philippines and sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission.
The 53-year-old Garma won over fellow IM Ronald Bancod in the first round late Wednesday to jumpstart his bid in this round-robin tournament being held to determine the members of the Philippine team to the 2018 Chess Olympiad in Batumi, Georgia.
It is one of the worst starts in a tournament for Antonio, who just arrived from the Malaysian Seniors’ event where he was tied for third.
Chess journalist Ignacio Dee said Antonio was obviously tired and exhausted.
“He (Antonio) was said to be exhausted but still the defending champ showed up. He was a piece up against Garma in the endgame of their Caro-Kann battle. it’s true Garma had a passed a-pawn but a rested Antonio would have found the solution,” said Dee in his analysis for Chess Philippines.
“After Antonio was forced to return the piece to stop the pawn at a7, Garma ended up with a rook ending two pawns up (3 vs 1, same side). This is the worst start of Antonio’s career and it puts his title retention in danger.”
Five players—IM Paulo Bersamina, GM John Paul Gomez, IM Haridas Pascua, Jonathan Jota and Jeth Romy Morado—are tied for second to sixth places with 1.5 points.
Bersamina outclassed Michael Concio, at 12 the youngest participant, in 59 m9ves of the French defense.
Gomez, the top seed with an ELO of 2463, settled for a draw with fellow GM Darwin Laylo on 40 moves of the Benko Gambit.
Pascua, who upset Antonio in the first round, split the point with United States-based GM Rogelio Barcenilla Jr. in 31 moves of the King’s Indian, while Jota, who shocked Laylo the other day, drew with Bancod in 71 moves of the Larsen opening.
Morado toppled reigning national junior chanpion John Marvin Miciano in 37 moves of the Nimzo-Indian.