In observance of the Holy Week, the Philippine News Agency’s online news service will be off on March 29, Good Friday, and March 30, Black Saturday. Normal operations will resume on March 31, Easter Sunday.

— The Editors

Arca upsets 9th seed Moldova player in Pacquiao chess tourney

December 13, 2022, 4:41 pm

<p><strong>UPSET WIN.</strong> Filipino teenage sensation Christian Gian Karlo Arca (left) analyses his next move against ninth seed International Master Dragos Ceres of Moldova at the start of the MCPL’s Manny Pacquiao International Open Chess Festival in General Santos on Tuesday (Dec. 13, 2022). Arca upset Ceres in 57 moves to seize an early share of the lead. <em>(Contributed photo)</em></p>

UPSET WIN. Filipino teenage sensation Christian Gian Karlo Arca (left) analyses his next move against ninth seed International Master Dragos Ceres of Moldova at the start of the MCPL’s Manny Pacquiao International Open Chess Festival in General Santos on Tuesday (Dec. 13, 2022). Arca upset Ceres in 57 moves to seize an early share of the lead. (Contributed photo)

MANILA – Filipino teenage sensation Christian Gian Karlo Arca sent shockwaves down the tournament area as he slew ninth seed International Master Dragos Ceres of Moldova to seize an early share of the lead at the start of the MCPL’s Manny Pacquiao International Open Chess Festival in General Santos on Tuesday.

The 13-year-old Panabo, Davao del Norte native who is now based in Dasmariñas wielded the Caro-Kann Defense with impunity and delivered the knockout blow via an unstoppable queenside passed pawn to hack out the stunning 57-move win.

When it was over, the 18-year-old Ceres, a European Under-15 silver winner and a reserve of the Moldovan team that saw action in Chennai Olympiad early this year, was left with two pawns down, an exposed king and an Arca b-file pawn ready to get promoted to a queen.

The reigning Bangkok East Asia Youth U14 open champion jumped into a 32-player logjam at No. 1 that included Filipino Grandmasters John Paul Gomez, Darwin Laylo and Joey Antonio.

Arca was eyeing a fitting follow up to his mammoth win as he was clashing with veteran IM Cris Ramayrat in the second round at press time.

Gomez downed Ferdinand Leysa; Laylo taught student Mark Jay Bacojo a lesson and won their duel; and Antonio turned back Gerard Yulo in this nine-round tournament staking a total cash pot worth PHP4.2 million including PHP1.14 million to the winner, the biggest in decades, courtesy of boxing legend and former senator Manny Pacquiao.

Other Filipinos who survived the first round were IM Richillieu Salcedo III, FIDE Master Mari Joseph Turqueza, FM David Elorta, IM Ronald Bancod, IM Eric Labog Jr., IM Rolando Nolte, FM Jeth Romy Morado, IM Kim Steven Yap, IM Ricky de Guzman and IM Chito Garma.

The fancied foreign bets, GMs Hoivhannes Gabuzyan of Armenia, Lucas Van Foreest of the Netherlands, Vitaly Sivuk of Sweden and Pier Luigi Basso of Italy, all breezed through their first round assignments. (PNA)


Comments