Pimentel random chess No. 1

GENERAL SANTOS CITY—International Master Joel Pimentel and Grandmaster Rogelio Antonio Jr. agreed to a quick draw in their top board battle yesterday and wound up 1-2 in the Bobby D. Pacquiao Random Chess Tournament’s individual rapid competition at SM City Trade Hall 2 here.

The 23-year-old Pimentel, a computer applications student of College of St. Benilde, finished the nine-round event with 8.0 points on seven wins and two draws while Antonio, 54, tallied 7.5 on six wins and three draws.

Pimentel, who surged ahead with a win over fellow IM Ronald Dableo in the eighth round, pocketed the top purse of P60,000.

Antonio bested fellow 7.5 pointers Rommel Ganzon, National Master Allan Macala, Jerich Cajeras, NM Hamed Nouri and IM Kim Steven Yap in the tiebreaker. They split the combined prizes from second to seventh places.

“Both of us didn’t want to take chances,” said Pimentel. “He (Antonio) was my trainer when I won in the 2006 Indonesian age-group and earned my Fide Master title.”

It was another strong showing for the Bacolod wizard in the P2-million festival organized by Asia’s first GM Eugene Torre.

Last December, Pimentel manned the top board and powered Elman 1 to the team title in the 2nd Manny Pacquiao Random Chess Tournament.

The 13-round blitz event of the week-long tournament started Thursday.