GM PARAGUA

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GM Mark Paragua rules Asian Indoor Games chess qualifying

GRAND MASTER Mark Paragua captured the Asian Indoor qualifying round chess title last Monday at the LWUA head office in Quezon City.

Paragua, the 2003 Southeast Asian Games’ most bemedalled athlete, finished 12.5 points en route to one of the four slots in this year’s Asian Indoor Games chess competition to be held in Vietnam.

GM Rogelio "Joey" Antonio Jr. (11.0 points), IM Rolando Nolte (10.5 points) and GM Jayson Gonzales (10.0 points) placed second to fourth, respectively. Gonzales took the last spot after beating fellow 10-pointer GM Darwin Laylo in tie-break points.

Vietnam-bound

Paragua, Antonio, Nolte and Gonzales will represent the country in the forthcoming Asian Indoor Games in Vietnam.

Other players who saw action were GM-elect Ronald Dableo (9.5 points), GM Bong Villamayor (8.0 points), NM Julius Joseph de Ramos (7.5 points), NM Ali Branzuela (7.5 points), NM Haridas Pascua (7.5 points), IM Barlo Nadera (6.5 points), IM-elect Emmanuel Senador (6.0 points), FM Christopher Castellano (5.5 points), MJ Turqueza (5.0 points), NM Rhobel Legaspi (5.0 points) and NM Belsar Valencia (4.5 points). — Marlon Bernardino