FILIPINO Grandmaster (GM) Rogelio Antonio finally took the top spot in the ongoing 2017 Negros International Open Chess Championship after beating Edsel Montoya of La Carlota City in 66 moves on four Knights chess opening.
The win kept GM Antonio undefeated after Round Four while dropping Montoya to fifth position with three wins and a loss.
The Filipino grandmaster’s ecstacy may not stay long as he will face English GM Nigel Short next in Round Five. The erstwhile tournament leader Short dropped to number four with 3.5 points despite beating IM Kim Steven Yap of Cebu in 39 moves using King’s Indian defense in Round Four.
Short figured on a draw with Vietnam’s IM Minh Thang Tran in Round Three on Friday paving Antonio’s leap to first.
Indian GM Srinath Narayan settled at number two after Round 4 while Vietnam GM Duc Hoa Nguyen followed with 3.5 points apiece.
Current top 10 include Montoya, IM Ronald Dableo, NM Emmanuel Emperado, and Ellan Asuela of Bacolod City with 3.0 points each. IM Tran of Vietnam and IM Yap have 2.5 points each.
Tournament sponsor Tony Aguirre said it is too early to make a prediction because the Philippine bets have yet to meet the big guns.
