Negros International Chess Open
Edsel Montoya continues to make waves in the open division of the Piaya Network 2017 Negros International Open Chess Tournament in Talisay City, Negros Occidental.
This after the non-titled Montoya became the only remaining Cebuano wood pusher in the top 10 of the ongoing tournament. He has 4.0 points after five rounds.
The 22nd-seed Montoya (2262 Elo rating) is currently placed third behind fifth-seed Grand Master (GM) Duc Hoa Nguyen of Vietnam, who also has 4.0 points but has a bigger tie break score.
Filipino GM Rogelio Antonio Jr., the ninth seed, is currently leading the tournament with 4.5 points.
Montoya recovered from his fourth round loss to GM Antonio by beating 20th-seed Ellan Asuela in the fifth round.
He was playing against top seed GM Nigel Short of England in the sixth round at press time.
GM Short is at fifth place with 4.0 points behind Indian GM Srinath Narayanan, who is at fourth also with 4.0 points.
Sixth to 10th place after round five were International Master (IM) Ronald Dableo, National Master (NM) Emmanuel Emperado, Jayson Salubre, Danmaersk Mangao and IM Chito Garma, respectively. They all have 3.5 points.
Another Cebuano contender, IM Kim Steven Yap, dropped from 10th place in the fourth round to 21st place after round five after he suffered his second consecutive defeat. The 10th-seed Yap lost to Salubre in the fifth round. He was currently playing fellow Cebuano Michael Joseph Pagaran in the sixth round.
In the challenger division, Cebuano wood pusher Diego Abraham Caparino is at third with 3.5 points behind fourth seed Dale Bernardo (3.5 points) and fifth seed Carlito Lavega (4.0).
Just like Montoya, Caparino of the University of Cebu (UC) is the only Cebuano in the top 10 in the challenger division.
Caparino beat Lou Anton Rivera in the fourth round.
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