GENERAL SANTOS City ― Inspired by the arrival of Misamis Oriental sports caretaker Chrysostom ‘Tammy’ Cailing yesterday, the Paglaum MisOr chessers rebounded from a listless third-round show in the ongoing Manny Pacquiao International Chess Tournament at the Family Country Homes Convention Center here.
Leading the charge is Fide Master Ellan Asuela, who after being slowed down by a couple of draws, outdueled Davao City’s Gino Angelo Asuncion on Saturday afternoon’s productive fourth round to crack the elite top-16 bunch in the 70-man field.
Retired Air Force man Allan Cantonjos held to a draw the tournament sensation in 14-year-old Arena Fide Master Andrei Ainsley Dolorosa from Ateneo de Davao University to stay in close distance with Asuela at 2.5 points along with fellow Misamis Oriental bets Johnnel Balquin and Jeriel Manlimbana.
“Actually, siya ang nanabla kay naka-advantage ko sa opening paingon sa middlegame medyo na bothered lang ko kay lihok kaayo sa table iyang kamot,” Cantonjos said of Dolorosa who stunned the tough Sherwin Tiu and International Master Chito Garma in the first two rounds of the $35,000-rich Individual Open set for nine rounds.
As Manlimbana manhandled retired Army man Mardonio Fuentes of Ozamiz City, Balquin endured a four-hour-long match to overpower Yreil Josh Hernani and also improve his chances in the prize circle.
“Grabe ka gahi dili basta-basta ‘ni nga field sa Gensan. Kuyaw na imong performance kon makasulod sa top 30 bonus na lang kon mag top-20 labi na gyod ang top-10,” Balquin told Gold Star Daily.
El Salvador pride Antonio Chavez Jr of the Philippine Army defeated Davao City’s Irwin Aton to join a big group of two-pointers, including fellow Misamisnon Aljie Cantonjos.
The younger Cantonjos was close to upstaging International Master Eric Labog Jr in a winning endgame position with the black pieces. But another careless move squandered away his opportunity to enjoy the day’s instant spotlight.
“King’s move lang daug na. Wala nako lugoti pag analyze ang crucial nga endgame position maong dako nga lesson sa pagka danghag ug kumpyansa ako nakat-onan dire nga tournament,” said Cantonjos with heavy feelings.
MisOr’s youngest player here 13-year-old National Master Adriane Keith Ilar, meanwhile won over Leandro Miguel Torrato to improve his output to 1.5 points.
The underdog wards of Misamis Oriental Governor Peter ‘Sr Pedro’ M. Unabia now have the opportunity to move to the upper half of the leaderboard with FM Asuela and Allan Cantonjos even dating foreign rivals Grandmaster Novendra Priasmoro and FM Ruud Van Meegen of the Netherlands in the exciting Round 5 now in progress as of press time.
“Happy ang mga bata nga miduyog gyod uban kanato ang overseer sa Capitol sports (Tammy Cailing). Win or lose, kombate lang gyod atong Paglaum MisOr team,” said the province’s assigned chess delegation head Jancin Roturas under the supervision of Provincial Sports Development Office Admin Officer Reynand Fuentes.
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