4th PGMA Cup Open Rounds 4 and 5

Round 4 notable performers and shockers:

IM Richard Bitoon (2490) beat No.1 seed super-GM Mikhael Mchedlishvili (2613)

Seven participants lost by time forfeit caused by typhoon "Ondoy." One of the big casualties was erstwhile leader GM-elect Ronald Dableo. The bitter part is that Dableo reportedly arrived five minutes after the forfeiting time.

The six others who lost by time forfeit were IM Barlo Nadera, Deniel Causo, Ali Branzuela, Edmundo Legaspi, Conrado Diaz, and Albert Rivera.

Round 5 notable observations

With a pawn down, IM Richard Bitoon salvaged a draw in Board 1 encounter with solo leader Singaporean GM Meng Kong Wong.

David Elorta wasted a full point against GM Li Shilong and ended instead with a draw.

GM-elect Dableo drew with GM Thien Hai Dao in 31 moves. (Remember the controversial no-less-than-30-move-draw order by NCFP President Pichay, which led to the re-play order between GM Wesley So and GM Joey Antonio in the last Battle of Grandmasters, which the two replayed and ended again in a draw after 31 moves?)

Two Georgian GMs beat two Filipino GMs. GM Mchedlishvili beat GM Paragua and GM Gagunashvili beat GM Villamayor

Two Indian players cut each other's throat. GM Gopal beat GM Neelotpal in a Board 8 match

GM Torre nailed his fifth draws in as many rounds

Rk. Name Pts.
1 gm WONG Meng Kong 4.5
2 gm NGUYEN Ngoc Truong Son 4
3 gm KOTANJIAN Tigran 4
4 im BITOON Richard 4
5 gm FILIPPOV Anton 3.5
6 im DABLEO Ronald 3.5
7 gm MCHEDLISHVILI Mikhael 3.5
8 gm GHAEMMAGHAMI Ehsan 3.5
9 gm ANTONIO Rogelio Jr. 3.5
10 gm GOMEZ John Paul 3.5
11 gm GAGUNASHVILI Merab 3.5
12 gm LAYLO Darwin 3.5
13 gm NAYANAN Getha Gopal 3.5
14 gm DAO Thien Hai 3.5
15 OLAY Edgar Reggie 3
16 gm KOSTENKO Pyotr 3
17 fm CARLOS Leonardo 3
18 gm ISMAGAMBETOV Anuar 3
19 MACALA Allan 3
20 im DIMAKILING Oliver 3
21 SEGARRA Randy 3
22 gm VILLAMAYOR Buenaventura 2.5
23 gm PARAGUA Mark 2.5
24 MORAZO John Ranel 2.5
25 ELORTA David 2.5
26 wgm NADIG Krutika 2.5
27 gm DAS Neelotpal 2.5
28 gm GONZALES Jayson 2.5
29 SENADOR Emmanuel 2.5
30 im GARMA Chito 2.5
31 PORTUGALERA Ric 2.5
32 gm TORRE Eugenio 2.5
33 gm LI Shilong 2.5
34 BRANZUELA Ali 2.5
35 im TIRTO 2
36 im NADERA Barlo 2
37 ANDADOR Rolando 2
38 CAUSO Deniel 2
39 GARMA Edgardo 2
40 LABAY Rainier 2
41 CORDERO Angel 2
42 SEVILLANO Voltaire 2
43 im NOLTE Rolando 2
44 DIAZ Conrado 2
45 fm PASCUA Haridas 2
46 LEGASPI Edmundo 1.5
47 ABELGAS Roel 1.5
48 BAGAMASBAD Efren 1.5
49 ALISANGCO Nicomedes 1.5
50 RIVERA Albert 1.5
51 DELA CRUZ Richard 1
52 POLAO Ben 1
53 GEPIGA Glicel 1
54 LUMANCAS Lyndon 1
55 JORDA Danilo 1
56 YULO Gerardo 0.5