Zone 3.3 Round 1 report

RP's Men contingent started strong in the opening round of Zone 3.3. FIDE World Chess Championships in Vietnam by registering a +4-0=2 performance (four wins, no loss, two draws).

Round 1 victories

GM Eugene Torre

IM Richard Bitoon

GM Darwin Laylo

GM Mark Paragua

Round 1 draws

GM Wesley So

IM Rolando Nolte

Considering the Round 1 pairings, though, the Filipino campaigners were expected not to lose based on Elo rating gaps over their opponents.

Let's look at the rating gaps in Round 1 pairings:

GM Wesley So (2646) vs FM Ly Hong Nguyen (2303)

GM Eugene Torre (2560) vs Srivachirawat Kannapon (2256)
IM Richard Bitoon (2495) vs Tran Quoc Dung (2196)

GM Darwin Laylo (2494) vs Tran Ngoc Lan (2176)

GM Mark Paragua (2487) vs CM Nguyen Van Thanh (2173)

IM Rolando Nolte (2458) vs Nguyen Manh Truong (2160)

GM Wesley So's draw with his Round 1 opponent, FM Ly Hong Nguyen cost him very precious Elo 3.8 points - an early thorn in his quest for achieving the 2700+ mark.

In the distaff side, however, our ladies suffered a +0-3=1 output. If not for WFM Catherine Pereña's gigantic draw against WGM Nguyen Thi Thanh An (2330) of Vietnam, it could have been a total disaster for our Women Team.

I personally choose Pereña as the Best Performer in the 10-player RP contingent in Round 1.

Notably, two Indonesians (WGMSukandar Irine Kharisma and WCMSihite Chelsie Monica) lead the rankings after Round 1.

Let's all pray for our campaigners, especially for our Women's Team. Go go go!