By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
International Master Jan Emmanuel Garcia and Jeth Romy Morado started their bids for Olympiad seats with back-to-back victories in the “Road To Batumi” chess championships at the Alphaland Makati Place over the weekend.
Garcia was brilliant in his win over FIDE Master Roberto Suelo Jr. and was ever sharper in his triumph over Jonathan Jota, while Morado also downed Jota and IM Chito Garma to remain as the only two undefeated players in this seven-round tournament.
Grandmaster Joey Antonio and FM Mari Joseph Turqueza trailed half a point behind with identical 1.5 points, even as fancied bets GM John Paul Gomez, IM Paulo Bersamina, IM Haridas Pascua and IM Richelieu Salcedo III had 1 point apiece.
Antonio opened his campaign on a bright note with a triumph over Garma, but settled for a draw with Gomez in the second round, while Turqueza split the point with Gomez before regaining his composure with a Round 2 win over Rolando Andador.
