Barbosa, three other GMs pace La Union chess

MANILA, Philippines - Grandmaster Oliver Barbosa downed Efren Arguelles in their Queen’s Indian defense game to lead three other GMs and seven others with two points in the seventh La Union Open Chess Championships at the Ortega gym in San Fernando City, La Union yesterday.

GMs Joey Antonio, Darwin Laylo and Richard Bitoon likewise swept their first two matches along with IMs Ronald Dableo, Chito Garma, Yves Ranola, Oliver Dimakiling and Emmanuel Senador, FIDE Master Paulo Bersamina and Fidel Labuanan as they paced the stellar field in the revival of the event.

Antonio subdued Deniel Causo, Laylo toppled NM Edmundo Gatus, Bitoon defeated NM Eduardo Agagon, Dableo outwitted NM Rhobel Legaspi, Garma whipped Jimmy Auman, Ranola beat Ronald Adaya, Dimakiling trounced NM Nelson Villanueva, Senador stopped NM Efren Bagamasbad, Bersamina stunned IM Rolando Nolte, and Labuanan shocked FM Adrian Pacis.

GM Eugene Torre, who ruled the event the last time it was held in 2007, decided to skip the tournament and instead helped the hosts in the organization to ensure the successful staging of the event.

“We’re glad that our GMs came here to play and give rapid chess a boost,” said Torre.

The event marks the first time in local chess that a rapid competition is rated by the World Chess Federation (FIDE).

“Our city is very proud to host such a historic event,” said San Fernando, La Union Mayor Pablo Ortega. “We are hoping to make the La Union Open one of the most anticipated chess events in the calendar every year.”

The four-day competition, sanctioned by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines with Joseph Dumuk as tournament director, offers a top purse of P50,000 with the second and third placers receiving P25,000 and P15,000, respectively.

Other events on tap in the tournament, backed by Gov. Manuel Ortega of La Union, Rep. Victor Ortega, Abono Partylist Rep. Francisco Emmanuel Ortega and official hotel Villa Estrella Resort, are the non-masters, ladies division, seniors (above 50 years old), juniors (15 to 20 years old) and kiddies (14 years old and below).