The Battle of Grandmasters 2010 (BOGM) was originally scheduled last March 15-23 (Dapitan), then to March 23-30 (Manila), and now moved to May 25-31 (Tagaytay City).
Hopefully, this long postponed event will finally push through this time. Believe it or not, this much awaited battle was postponed last March for lack of venue.
A lot of changes transpired since the first schedule was announced in March. And now, not only venues and dates have been changed. Olala, even the names in the star-studded lineup saw some revisions. It was reported today that GM Torre, GM Paragua, GM Nelson Mariano, and GM Bong Villamayor will no longer be part of the action.
So, this tourney which is supposed to be a tough competition between grandmasters will now field only five of the country's 10 (or 9?) grandmasters. Perhaps, the present lineup no longer lives up to the event's billing.
Original list of participants:
MEN
GM Wesley So Two-time and defending champion
GM Rogelio Antonio Jr.
GM Darwin Laylo
GM Eugene Torre
GM Mark Paragua
GM Jayson Gonzales
IM Ronald Dableo
IM Richard Bitoon
IM Oliver Dimakiling
IM Rolando Nolte
FM Haridas Pascua
NM Alcon John Datu
Now, see the new list of participants (based on reports):
GM So
GM Antonio
GM Laylo
GM Gomez
GM Gonzales
IM Richard Bitoon
IM Julio Catalino Sadorra
IM Ronald Dableo
IM Rolando Nolte
IM Oliver Dimakiling
FM Haridas Pascua
FM Jan Emmanuel Garcia
Without the presence of the country's other four GMs, this tournament for sure won't be as sparkling as previous stagings.
Even the lineup for the Women's Group has seen some changes, too, but I think for the better. Here's the new lineup:
WFM Shercila Cua (defending champion)
WIM Beverly Mendoza
WFM Chardine Cheradee Camacho
WFM Catherine Perena
WFM Cherry Ann Mejia
Christy Lamiel Bernales
Jan Jodilyn Fronda
Jedara Docena
Akiko Suede
Aices Salvador
Let's make a review. What are at stake at the BOGM 2010 (Men), aside from the cash prizes? Let me note some:
GM WESLEY SO - His 2700-mark campaign is certainly on the menu. Any draw will drag his Elo rating down, a win does not promise much incremental gain, a loss would be fatal.
GM ANTONIO - Now with 2572 Elo rating, a good campaign could boost his 2600-mark quest.
IM RONALD DABLEO - A chance to win precious Elo points to finally earn his full GM title.
FM GARCIA - He only needs an IM norm for him to bag his full IM title. Remember that he had just earned his two IM norms in the Asian Continental Championship in Subic. Hmmnnn . . . what about a new Filipino IM at the end of BOGM 2010?
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Battle of Grandmasters 2010
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2 Comments:
IM D'maxx needs only one GM norm for the GM title, while Ino and Nolts already have one norm.Dont know if this tournament can be accredited for norm/title purposes. In my humble understanding of the FIDE rules only National Championship are allowed to breed IM's/GM's, but there is also a clause in the handbook that allows such tournament (only 1 per annum)to be accredited for such upon discreation on the national federation and FIDE.
Agreed, for the women's section those are welcome changes!
Aside from Camacho (rough knowledge is she may still be the strongest female?), there's the promising
Jedana (or is it Jedara) Docena of FEU and the young prospect Jan Fronda whom I've seen playing in local circuits playing on even terms vs men!
Plus many Subic qualifiers like Bernales,Suede etc... this would be good tune-up.
And I hope those young enough, like Camacho, also reguster as wildcards supported by their respective schools!
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