Gomez takes solo lead at Chess Olympiad qualifier

MANILA, Philippines – International master John Paul Gomez, a three-time national junior champion, scored back-to-back victories to gain the solo leadership in the grand finals of the National Chess Federation of the Philippine (NCFP) qualifying tournament at the Kaban ng Hiyas Building at the Mandaluyong City Hall. Gomez downed fellow IM Barlo Nadera and national master Jerry Nodado to keep his immaculate slate in the tournament, according to a NCFP statement issued on Thursday. The tournament serves as a qualifier to choose the members of the Phililppine squad that will campaign at the Chess Olympiad to held in November in Dresden, Germany. Gomez defeated Nadera in 41 moves of a Queen's Gambit Accepted game at Wednesday's second round and whipped Nodado in 32 moves of a Sicilian Moscow Opening for his third straight win on Thursday. Gomez upset GM Jayson Gonzales during the first round last Tuesday. Sharing the second and third spot were GM Buenaventura "Bong" Villamayor and unheralded NM Leonardo Carlos with their 2.5 points Villamayor, who posted first place finishes in the Subic Open and the Palawan Open, dominated NM Haridas Pascua in 38 moves of a Gruenfeld Defense in the second round then agreed to a draw with NM Jon Habla in 56 moves of a Classical Opening in the third round. Carlos drew with Nodado in 34 moves of a King's Indian Defense in the second round, which he followed up with a victory against IM Richard Bitoon in 32 moves of a Sicilian Defense Alapin Variation in the third round. Carlos, who was part of the team which campaigned in the World Under-16 Olympiad in 1994, downed Nadera in the first round. Top-ranked GM Wesley So gave GM Mark Paragua his second defeat with a victory after 36 moves of a Queen's Indian Defense. So, who halved the point with IM Chito Garma in the first round and IM Julio Catalino Sadorra in the second round, now leads a group of campaigners with two points. Sharing the spot with So are GM Darwin Laylo, who halved a point with Paragua in the second round and Pascua in the third round; IM Ronald Bancod, who drew with GM Jayson Gonzales in the second round and triumphed against Nadera in the third round; and NM Noel de la Cruz, who outclassed NM Jony Habla in the second round and NM Edmundo Gatus in the third round. Pascua, who upset Paragua in the opening round, bowed to Villamayor and drew with Laylo in his next two matches. Men's standings after three rounds 3 points - J. Gomez 2.5 points - B. Villamayor, L. Carlos 2 points - W. So, D. Laylo, R. Bancod, N. de la Cruz 1.5 points - C. Garma, R. Bitoon, R. Nolte, H. Pascua 1 point - J. Gonzales, J. Sadorra, E. Gatus, J. Nodado 0.5 point - M. Paragua, J. Habla 0 point – B. Nadera

- GMANews.TV