Top-seeded Grandmaster Oliver Barbosa bested Efren Arguelles in their Queen’s Indian Defense tussle to tow the march of favorites in the second round of the 7th La Union Open Chess Championships Tuesday at the Ortega Gym in San Fernando City, La Union.
Sharing top spot with Barbosa at 2.0 points were GMs Rogelio Antonio Jr., Darwin Laylo and Richard Bitoon, International Masters Ronald Dableo and Chito Garma, Yves Ranola, Oliver Dimakiling and Emmanuel Senador, Fide Master Paulo Bersamina and Fidel Labuanan.
Antonio downed Deniel Causo; Laylo pipped National Master Edmundo Gatus; Bitoon tamed NM Eduardo Agagon; Dableo bested NM Rhobel Legaspi; Garma whipped Jimmy Auman; Ranola nipped Ronald Adaya; Dimakiling beat NM Nelson Villanueva; Senador humbled NM Efren Bagamasbad; Bersamina stunned IM Rolando Nolte; and Labuanan shocked FM Adrian Pacis.
Defending champion GM Eugene Torre skipped the competition to oversee the event with organizer engineer Joseph Dumuk.