Wesley So remains undefeated in Tagaytay Zonal Chess

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TAGAYTAY CITY -- TOP-seeded grandmaster (GM) Wesley So (ELO 2682) remained unbeaten after three rounds in the Asian Zone 3.3 Chess Championship here at the Tagaytay International Convention Center.

So defeated GM Mark Paragua in the third round yesterday to secure his third straight win in the scheduled nine-round Swiss format, in the event hosted by Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham ?Bambol? Tolentino Jr. and the city council.

So's first the victims were NM Rustum Tolentino on Tuesday and GM Eugene Torre on Wednesday in the event organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) headed by it's chairman/president Prospero 'Butch' Pichay Jr. and Secretary-General Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham ?Bambol? Tolentino Jr.

Second seed GM Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son of Vietnam (ELO 2631) toppled defending champion GM Susanto Megaranto of Indonesia (ELO 2529) to scored 3.0 points and schedule to face So for the leadership board on Thursday's fourth round, afternoon session.

Meanwhile, the game between GM Darwin Laylo against GM Dao Thien Hai of Vietnam, GM Rogelio Antonio Jr. against GM Cao Sang of Vietnam and FM Gombosuren Munkhgal of Mongolia against IM Nguyen Doc Hoa of Vietnam ended into a fighting draw.

However, IM Oliver Dimakiling yielded to IM Bayarsaikhan Gundavaa of Mongolia. Laylo and Gundavaa notch 2.5 points apiece.

Torre, Barcenilla bounced back.

After a second round loses, Torre and US based GM Rogelio 'Banjo' Barcenilla Jr. fought back yesterday. Torre defeated FM Rudin Hamdani of Indonesia while Barcenilla nipped NM Nelson Villanueva to improved their total 2.0 points output, the same score of Paragua, Dao, Antonio, Cao, Munkhgal, Doc Hoa and GM Jonhn Paul Gomez, winner over IM Barlo Nadera.

Also with 2.0 points are IM Rolando Nolte who outplayed NM Roger Sarip and FM Haridas Pascua who outclassed FM Paulo Bersamina. Chief arbiter is FIDE delegate Casto Abundo while Program Director is NCFP Executive Director GM Jayson Gonzales-Marlon Bernardino-