Antonio Edges Torre

ANTONIO EDGES TORRE, SO ALSO EDGES PARAGUA IN OCTOBER FIDE RATING LIST

BY: MARLON BERNARDINO

ROGELIO "Joey" Antonio Jr. regained his No.1 status in the Philippine Chess by besting fellow Grandmaster Eugene Torre in the latest released by the World Chess Federation in the October FIDE rating list yesterday.

But the biggest news yesterday when 13-year-old RP whiz kid IM Wesley So beat former Super GM Mark Paragua in Philippine ranking.

Antonio, who finish No.11 place in the Asian Continental Chess Championships failed to advance in the World Chess Championships or World Cup that will be held from Nov. 23 to Dec. 18, 2007 in Khanty-Mansiysk, Ugra, Russia, accumulated a total of 2540 Fide Elo rating, good for him to occupy at No.1 spot.

Torre, founding president of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) notch 2531 was dropped into a tie for 2 nd to 3rd place with So, dubbed as the "brightest hope of Philippine Chess" who also tote 2531 to beat the 22-year-old Paragua, who relegated at No.4 spot with 2514 because of poor performance here and abroad.

However, the big question and mystery yesterday the name of IMs Ronald Dableo, Darwin Laylo, Chito Garma and Oliver Barbosa are not yet listed despite the federation officials or NCFP boss Butch Pichay Jr. said earlier that the four player was lifted their ban due to allegedly involed in the game-fixing scandal. The four player denied the accusation.

On the other hand, according to Fide handbook rules, requirement to become a full-pledge and genuine grandmaster (GM), a player must have reached a 2500 ELO rating.

On the part of Laylo, (who earn his third and final GM Norm in Asian Continental Championships recently in Cebu and only Pinoy woodpuhers advance in the World Championship) if he doesn't reached the 2500 ELO rating despite three GM norm was tucked under his belt, he didn't get his GM title if the rules and regulation of the World Governing body will follow.

Rounding up to the top 15 placers were IM Rogelio "Banjo" Barcenilla Jr. (2503), IM Joseph Sanchez (2496), IM Oliver Dimakiling (2491), IM John Paul Gomez (2469), IM Roland Salvador (2456), IM Jayson Gonzales (2454), GM Nelson Mariano II (2447), IM Rolly Martinez (2447), IM Enrique Paciencia (2431), GM Buenaventura "Bong" Villamayor (2425) and IM Rico Mascariñas (2416).

In the distaff side, Woman NM Catherine Pereña took the No.1 spot with 2247, and climbed at over-all No.63 place.

No.2 is WNM Shercila Cua (2203), No.3 is WFM Sheerie Joy Lomibao (2186), No.4 and No.5 are WIM Beverly Mendoza (2132), and WNM Sherily Cua (2132).

Meanwhile, GM Viswanathan Anand of India grab's the NO.1 post in the top world's 100 players list with 2801. The Indian GM came from a huge victory winning the World Championship title recently in Mexico who scored 9 points out of 14 rounds, the only undefeated player in the 8-man double round robin tournament.

GM Judith Polgar of Hungary adjudged No.1 in top 50 world's women players with 2708. GM Teimour Radjabov of Azerbaijan (2742) and GM Humpy Koneru of India (2606) occupied the No.1 spot in the 20-year-old below, junior division of male and female players, in order. (MARLON BERNARDINO)