Sadorra, 4 foreign GMs show the way

United States-based Filipino Grandmaster Julio Catalino Sadorra lived up to his lofty billing as he thwarted Fide Master Paulo Bersamina yesterday and kept pace with four foreign GMs after the second round of the Philippine International Chess Championship at the  Celebrity Sports Plaza in Quezon City.

Now the country’s top player following GM Wesley So’s transfer to the United States Chess Federation, Sadorra played white in subduing his Tromso Olympiad teammate in 51 moves of a Nimzo Indian Defense to match the second victories of Russians Anton Demchenko and Mikhail Mozarov and Georgians Levan Pantsulaia and Merab Gagunashvili.

With his Elo rating of 2575, Sadorra, a business administration cum laude at University of Texas in Dallas, has assumed the role as spearhead of the local challenge in the nine-round $30,000 tournament that lured 38 players, including eight foreigners and four female players.

The second-seeded Demchenko (Elo 2611) beat GM Darwin Laylo, Mozharov whipped International Master Haridas Pascua, Pantsulaia thwarted GM Eugene Torre, while Gagunashvli downed GM Richard Bitoon in the tournament sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission and Puregold.

Top seed GM Ivan Popov (Elo 2622) of Russia and 12-time national champion GM Rogelio Antonio Jr. drew after 31 moves of a Sicilian and led the 1.5 pointers in the tournament backed by Celebrity Sports Plaza, Asia United Bank, Burlington Microtel and Harold’s Hotel.

Also at 1.5 were Armenian GM Avetik Grigoryan and Indian IM Narayanan Sunilduth Lina, who split the point; GM Oliver Barbosa and FM Randy Segarra, who played to a draw; GM John Paul Gomez and FM Sander Severino, who also agreed to a truce; and Sheider Nebato, who drew with Noel Dela Cruz (0.5).

The 28-year-old Sadorra, board one player for the Philippines in Tromso, was handling black against Pantsulaia (2583), ranked No. 3, in the third round that was being played at press time last night.

Other key matches pitted Gagunashvili (2579) against Demchenko and Mozharov (2557) against Popov.

Newly minted WIM Mikee Charlene Suede, winner of the Girls’ division of the recent 2014 Asian Juniors Championships held in Tagaytay City, showed her prowess by beating IM Joel Pimentel and notching 1.0 point.

Tromso Olympian WIM Jan Jodilyn Fronda, on the other hand, drew with Paulo James Florendo for 0.5 point.

WIM Janelle Mae Frayna and WFM Marie Antoinette San Diego remained scoreless, however, following setbacks against IM Ronald Bancod and Merben Roque, respectively.

Rebounding from his opening round loss to Sadorra, Bancod was at 1.0 point in the company of Laylo, Torre, Bitoon, Bersamina, Pascua and IM Kim Steven Yap, who tamed Mongolian FM Sumiya Bilguun, FM Jony Habla, Roel Abelgas and Roque.