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STANDINGS (9 rounds):
6.5 – C. Li (China), Q.L. Le (Vietnam)
6.0 – W. Zhou (China), D. Liu (Indonesia)
5.5 – R. Antonio, B. Villamayor, R. Nolte , E. Maghami (Iran), S. Megaranto (Indonesia), A.D. Nguyen (Vietnam), M. Mahjoob (Iran), S. Irwanto (Indonesia)
5.0 – W. So, R. Bitoon, J. Sadorra, J,. Gomez, D. Elorta, Z.H. Wynn (Myanmar), D.T. Hai (Vietnam), L. Wang (China), X. Zhang (China)
Chinese Grand Master (GM) Li Chao dealt late Monday Filipino GM Wesley So his second defeat in three days in the eighth round of the $40,000-Philippine Open chess championship at the Subic Exhibition and Convention Center.
Li, who is best remembered by local fans for winning the 2nd President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Cup last year, prevailed in only 30 moves of the Sicilian Duel for a tie with Vietnam’s Q.L. Le who bested erstwhile leader Weiqi Zhou of China.
Li became the second Chinese player to win a game over So in the tournament, after the fifth round victory of Zhou against the 14-year-old Filipino GM.
Top GMs Rogelio Antonio Jr. and Buenaventura “Bong” Vilamayor and NM Rolando Nolte kept Filipino hopes alive in this tough, 11-round tournament after notching 5.5 points, a full point behind Li and Le with still three rounds remaining in this 76-player tournament which attracted 11 GMs, 17 IMs and three FMs.
Antonio, who was dislodged by So as the country's highest-ranked player in the recent FIDE list for April, outplayed compatriot IM Barlo Nadera.
Villamayor, who left a high-paying job as a chess instructor in Singapore to resume his playing career, trounced Xiu Deshun of China, while Nolte, one of the most underrated players in the country's deep pool of talents, dumped Yang Kaiqi of China.
So dropped into a tie for 13th to 21st spots with 5.0 points.
IM Julio Catalino Sadorra crushed WGM Zhang Jilin of China, David WElorta whipped Yu Lie of China, Reggie Olay humbled FM Lin Naing Kyaw of Mynamr and Arlan Cabe demolished Xu Tong of China to provide the other victories for the Filipino side.
Not as fortunate were IM Richard Bitoon, who succumbed to GM Morteza Mahjoob of Iran; Jan Emmanuel Garcia, who bowed to IM Zaw Htun Wynn of Myanmar, Emmanuel Senador, who lost to Wang Yunguo of China, Nelson Villanueva, who fell to IM Danny Juswanto of Indonesia, and Roderick naca, who lost to IM Tirta Purnama of Indonesia.
In other eighth-round matches, Hamed Nouri downed Cristy Berlanes, Rolando Andador outplayed Karl Victor Ochoa, Efewn Bagamasbad nipped Aices Salvador, FM Adrian Pacis stopped Catherine Perena and Victor Lluch overwhelmed IM Chito Garma.
