MANILA, 8 August 2003 — Grand Master candidate Mark Paragua (ELO 2500) edged coach/trainer International Master Joseph Sanchez (ELO 2410) to complete a 1-2 finish for the Philippines in the XV Open Cannes International Chess Championships in Cannes, France.

Paragua, Sanchez and Dimitar Marholev (ELO 2385) of Bulgaria were tied with seven points apiece after nine rounds but Paragua emerged champion in the 128 man-field after the tiebreak. Paragua could have sweetened the win further had he won over Marholev in the eighth round. The chance to obtain a second GM result fizzled out as his match ended in a draw. The 32-year-old Sanchez, also an enlisted member of the Philippine Navy, took solo leadership after the eighth round but failed to snatch the victory outright when he settled for a draw with GM Levy Ortega (ELO 2437) of Italy. The 19-year-old 1998 and World Rapid Under-14 champion Paragua, meanwhile, defeated Asian 3.2a Zonal champion and GM candidate Ronald Dableo (ELO 2305) also from PAF after a marathon 55 moves of an English Opening in their Board 2 encounter.

Filipino Jun golfers Capture Crowns

Dottie Ardina and Allenby Jiro "AR" Ramos captured the crowns in the fourth US Kids World Golf Championship in Williamsburg, Virginia. Ardina scored a two-under-par 34 in the final round to rule the division for nine-year-olds by three strokes with her 107 total at the Williamsburg National Golf Club. The former junior world champion won for the second straight year in the US Kids after her victory in the eight-year-old category last year. Ramos, a first grader at La Salle-Greenhills, did even better.

The six-year-old Ramos went all the way with his three-under 33 good for a six-shot win in his division. He fired a six-under 30 in the first round and zoomed ahead by five with a 32 the next day.

Manila Wants Batang Pinoy

If only to show how capable it is of hosting the Southeast Asian Games two years from now, the City of Manila is bent on seeking the consent of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) for it to stage the next edition of the Batang Pinoy. Along with Pampanga and Bacolod, the country's capital city is bidding to host the 23rd edition of the SEAG, last held in Manila 12 years ago. The same thing can be said of the Batang Pinoy staging, in which Manila is also leading other provinces as probable host come January next year.

376 Others Pass POC Grade

The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) executive board gave its blessing to the 377 athletes recommended by the technical commission for inclusion in the RP team set to do battle in the Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam. The 377-strong roster, which is bannered by billiards Hall Of Famer Efren "Bata" Reyes, will still have to get the final approval from the general assembly but is expected to have an easy sailing as it did at the board level.

Team Spirit Key to Philippine Bid in Vietnam Games

Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Eric Buhain has urged the Filipino athletes to shrug off their "individuality" and think more of their "contribution" to the entire Philippine team when they participate in the 2003 Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam. Buhain said "team spirit" should be embraced by the 400-plus athletes in the contingent, which he expects to win 40 to 60 gold medals in the Vietnam games.

Bata, Django to Play in Holland

Barely a month after seeing action in the World Pool Championship in Cardiff, England, Efren "Bata" Reyes, Francisco "Django" Bustamante and Alex Pagulayan play anew in the $62,000 World Pool Masters in Holland on Aug. 29-31.

Matchroom Sport, the British promoter of the annual event, said ESPN Star Sports will televise the 9-ball tournament throughout Asia. Reyes and Bustamante of Puyat Sports and Pagulayan, who a Filipino who represents Canada, were among "the 16 of the very best 9-ball players in the world" invited to the meet, according to the Matchroom Sport announcement.

Filipino Triathlon Athletes Against Asia's Best

The country's top triathletes will show their wares when they go up against the best of Asia as they take part in two international tournaments in Malaysia and Macau this month. Reigning national elite champions Ani de Leon and George Vilog will spearhead the country's campaign in the Sarawak International Triathlon championships on Aug. 17 in Sarawak, Malaysia, the seventh leg of the Asian Cup series. De Leon and Vilog, who fortified their lofty billing in the local scene by capturing their second consecutive elite titles in the 2003 National Triathlon championships, will be joined by Cebuana Ripples Rafanan and Davaoe?o Johnny Yanong, the current national age group titlists.

Aguilar Retains Overall Lead

Oscar Aguilar of the Havoline Racing team bucked a slippery race course and tire problems in the morning race with precision driving to rule the afternoon race and retain overall leadership in the class NJ category of the Casino Filipino National Super Touring Car series at the Batangas Racing Circuit in Rosario, Batangas. As rains resulted in slippery turns at the BRC course, thereby delaying the resumption of the afternoon race, Aguilar had a cautious run in the earlier laps before making a stronger push in the end to post a 1:20.15 clocking and strengthen his hold on the overall championship in this monthly car-racing tournament.