1st Barley Rapid Chess Open

Saturday, March 21, 2009
1st Barley Rapid Chess Open, results after 4 rounds
GMs Wesley So and Bong Villamayor lead the pack of perfect scorers after four rounds at the 1st Barley Rapid Chess Open at the Gateway Mall in Araneta Center. IMs Petronio Roca, Oliver Barbosa, Rolando Nolte, and Chito Garma and NM David Elorta also share the top spot with four points each.

Just a half point behind were GMs John Paul Gomez and Darwin Laylo; AJ Datu, Richard Bitoon, Jan Emmanuel Garcia, Barlo Nadera, Michael Linde, JJ De Ramos, and Fernie Donguines. While some 17 players, including Mark Paragua-- who suffered an upset loss at the hands of DLSU player Narquinden Reyes in Round 2, have 3 points each going into the 5th round of the 9-round event.

The 1st Barley Essentials Rapid Chess Open drew about 200 participants, in what could be one of the most successfully staged Rapid tourney in the country. Below is the Round 5 pairings at the top boards:

Barbosa (4) - So (4)
Roca (4)- Villamayor (4)
Nolte (4)- Elorta (4)
Gomez (3.5)- Garma (4)
Laylo (3.5)- Datu (3.5)
De Ramos(3.5) - Bitoon, Richard (3.5)
Garcia, JE (3.5)- Nadera (3.5)
Linde (3.5)- Donguines (3.5)