INQUIRER Sports

THE RP rapid chess team composed of GM Rogelio ?Joey? Antonio Jr., GM Mark Paragua, WFM Shercila Cua and WFM Catherine Perena yesterday settled for 6th overall at the end of the preliminary round of the rapid team competition in the 3rd Asian Indoor Games in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Kazakhstan and the Philippines actually had the same output of 18.5 points, but the former finished 5th overall with a superior tie break.

Antonio, Paragua and Perena provided the important wins in the 9th round for the Nationals by beating Qatar?s GM Al Mohammad Modiahki, IM Nezad Husein Aziz and WFM Safar Reem on boards 1, 2, and 4, respectively.

Former World Women?s champion GM Zhu Chen saved the day for the Qataris when she beat Cua in their board 3 match.

China, Vietnam, India and Uzbekistan advanced to the knock-out semi-final round after taking the top four places.

Meanwhile, host Vietnam captured the gold medal in Team Blitz while tournament favorite China swept the gold medals in both the Men and Women?s Rapid event./Correspondent MARLON BERNARDINO