SEEDED PLAYERS TOP FIRST ROUND IN GAEV MEMORIAL CHESS TILT

3RD GAEV MEMORIAL CHESS TOURNEY CEREMONIAL MOVE. Fide Master and current GAEV champion Sander Severino responded to the first move of Lawrence Villanueva, president of the First Community Bank during the opening of the tournament at the Sweet City CAPTEL last Wednesday while National Master Alan Severino, tournament director Dodz Felisilda, and tournament chairperson Leah Aguirre look on. JAMES G. TOGA Photo

FIVE National Masters and one US Masters won their opening matches to lead the early winners in the 2011 3rd George Aguirre/Eugenio Villanueva Memorial Negros Open Individual Chess Tournament held at the Montelibano Hall of Captel Hotel in Bacolod City.

Defending champion Sander Severino defeated Allan Alibuga in 32 moves of English attack in Board 1 and will face Prof. Dwight Perez (Rank 32) in the next round. Perez won over Krizzia Nepomuceno (Rank 90) in 26 moves of center counter.

US Master Rodrigo Atotubo (Rank 2), who defeated Kenan John Anoran in 23 moves of Sicilian, will face Marvin Ting (Rank 33), who beat Zandro Orcajada in 47 moves of Benoni, in Board 2.

NM Rodolfo Toledo will engage Danny Maersk Mangao in the next round in Board 3 after prevailing over separate opponents. Toledo beat Rengent Arevalo in 22 moves Reti, while Mangao won over Kurt Palmes by default.

In Board 4, NM Alfred Acaling lll battles Edwin LLamo after getting past Giselle Asong by default, while Llamo turned back SPO4 Ernesto Pedrosa in 30 moves of Giuoco Piano.

NM Nelson Villanueva will play against Melchi Tomias in Board 5 after gaining points over their opponents Wednesday night. Villanueva defeated Antonio Ballares in 40 moves of Caro-Kann, while Tomias won by default over Chessie de la Peña.

Game 6 match-up in the next round will be between NM Edwin Tan and Anthony Paran, after Tan won his match against Aliah Grace Belaño in 50 moves of Scotch as Paran beat Edgar de la Peña by default in Board 6.

The tournament is a 7-Round Swiss (1-hr 20 moves + 1-hr to finish the game), with the winners taking home specially-designed trophies and cash prizes.*NAB

(VISAYAN DAILY STAR)