Gonzales rules Subic Open
SUBIC: GM-elect Jayson Gonzales is back where he always wanted to be on top.
Gonzales emerged as the overall champion in the first Subic Open International Chess Championship with a dramatic, final-round win over surprise package Rolando Andador before a big crowd at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center Friday.
The 34-year-old mainstay of Philippine Army exploited a shattering blunder by Andador in the endgame and got rid of an impending draw to capture the overall title and the top prize of $5,000. Manila Times
The win by Gonzales came in 40 moves of the Slav, or only three moves after Andador made the fatal king push on the 37th move that forced him to give up a rook for a bishop to escape a mate in one.
Gonzales, who rarely settles for a draw, actually offered to split the point on the 34th move with the position almost even. But Andador, who was way ahead in time, shunned the offer and desperately went for a win.
Then came the blunder.
It was also a big turnaround for Gonzales, who finished dead-last in the recent “Battle of GMs” tournament held in Manila early this month.
“I’m very, very happy to win the title. It was a dream come true,” said Gonzales, who also became the first Filipino to win an international title at home since former Rep. Prospero Pichay was elected National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) president.
Before Gonzales’ unexpected triumph, foreign players dominated all six other international tournaments hosted by Pichay since 2006.
“Malaki talaga ang pasasalamat ko kay Congressman Pichay dahil sa patuloy niyang suporta hindi lamang sa akin kundi sa lahat ng mga players,” added Gonzales, who is still several ELO ratings short before being formally awarded his GM title.
Pichay personally awarded the trophies and cash prizes to Gonzales and the other top finishers, assisted by NCFP Secretary-General and Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham Bambol Tolentino, tournament director Willie Abalos, chief arbiter Peter Long of Malaysia and NCFP officials Atty. Edmundo Legaspi and Red Dumuk.
Gonzales, who earned his third and last GM norm during the Asean Masters in Tarakan, Indonesia early this year, said he deliberately skipped the recent Philippine Open to take a much-needed rest following his lackluster showing in the “Battle of GMs.” He also bought a brand new laptop and continued his chess studies during the period.
The perseverance and hard work, obviously, paid off during the Subic Open.
Overall, Gonzales finished with seven points out of a possible nine in this prestigious tournament supported by the Department of Tourism and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority.
Top seed GM Yuriy Kuzubov of Ukraine and Dubai Open champion GM Wesley So settled for a quick, friendly draw after only 10 moves of the Sicilian to finish in a four-way tie for second to fifth places with Asia’s first GM Eugene Torre and comebacking GM Buenaventura “Bong” Villamayor with 6.5 points.
Torre outlasted IM Zaw Htun Wynn of Myanmar while Villamayor overpowered former national junior champion Oliver Barbosa.
So, at 14 the world’s youngest GM, finished second overall due to higher tiebreak score.
Gonzales emerged as the overall champion in the first Subic Open International Chess Championship with a dramatic, final-round win over surprise package Rolando Andador before a big crowd at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center Friday.
The 34-year-old mainstay of Philippine Army exploited a shattering blunder by Andador in the endgame and got rid of an impending draw to capture the overall title and the top prize of $5,000. Manila Times
The win by Gonzales came in 40 moves of the Slav, or only three moves after Andador made the fatal king push on the 37th move that forced him to give up a rook for a bishop to escape a mate in one.
Gonzales, who rarely settles for a draw, actually offered to split the point on the 34th move with the position almost even. But Andador, who was way ahead in time, shunned the offer and desperately went for a win.
Then came the blunder.
It was also a big turnaround for Gonzales, who finished dead-last in the recent “Battle of GMs” tournament held in Manila early this month.
“I’m very, very happy to win the title. It was a dream come true,” said Gonzales, who also became the first Filipino to win an international title at home since former Rep. Prospero Pichay was elected National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) president.
Before Gonzales’ unexpected triumph, foreign players dominated all six other international tournaments hosted by Pichay since 2006.
“Malaki talaga ang pasasalamat ko kay Congressman Pichay dahil sa patuloy niyang suporta hindi lamang sa akin kundi sa lahat ng mga players,” added Gonzales, who is still several ELO ratings short before being formally awarded his GM title.
Pichay personally awarded the trophies and cash prizes to Gonzales and the other top finishers, assisted by NCFP Secretary-General and Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham Bambol Tolentino, tournament director Willie Abalos, chief arbiter Peter Long of Malaysia and NCFP officials Atty. Edmundo Legaspi and Red Dumuk.
Gonzales, who earned his third and last GM norm during the Asean Masters in Tarakan, Indonesia early this year, said he deliberately skipped the recent Philippine Open to take a much-needed rest following his lackluster showing in the “Battle of GMs.” He also bought a brand new laptop and continued his chess studies during the period.
The perseverance and hard work, obviously, paid off during the Subic Open.
Overall, Gonzales finished with seven points out of a possible nine in this prestigious tournament supported by the Department of Tourism and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority.
Top seed GM Yuriy Kuzubov of Ukraine and Dubai Open champion GM Wesley So settled for a quick, friendly draw after only 10 moves of the Sicilian to finish in a four-way tie for second to fifth places with Asia’s first GM Eugene Torre and comebacking GM Buenaventura “Bong” Villamayor with 6.5 points.
Torre outlasted IM Zaw Htun Wynn of Myanmar while Villamayor overpowered former national junior champion Oliver Barbosa.
So, at 14 the world’s youngest GM, finished second overall due to higher tiebreak score.
posted by OlongapoCity Zambales at
2:08 AM
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