RIYADH, 19 December 2003 — The 6th ANB-Telemoney Open Chess Tournament organized by the Riyadh Chess Club saw some keen matches in the 4th and 5th rounds here at the Al Mutlaq Hotel. Veteran Gilbert Humangit, the upcoming Frank Padla, and neophyte Cornelio Pondoc, were to the fore in Classes A, B and C, respectively.

Humangit wrested the lead in Class A by posting important victories. He hurdled Herman Honrado and George dela Pena in the 4th and 5th rounds, respectively. Humangit steadily monitored Honrado’s bid and broke the latter in the middle game.

He won the game in 36 moves of an Irregular Reti Opening. Against the talented Dela Pena, Humangit lured Dela Pena’s king to the center and cleverly maneuvered his queen close to Dela Pena’s monarch. Dela Pena resigned, given a choice of mate or a loss of all his materials. Dela Pena stayed close with front runner Humangit, who had four points. Earlier, he had taken a point from top-caliber Ed Valenzuela in round 4. Dela Pena secured the demilitarized zone for his queening pawn in the h-file by forcing exchanges of queens in the last moves of an attacking Reti game to collect an aggregate score of 3.5 points.

Sharing second place with dela Pena at 3.5 points is Achillean Willy Trinidad, the Iron Man of the tournament. Trinidad halved his point with Tony Zorilla and won against Tal-disciple Ramil Ancajas of Arab National Bank. Other Class A battles in the 5th round saw impressive Indian Saleem Siddique winning over Saudi Ahmed Al Gamdi, Honrado splitting the point with Rene Almario, and RCC President Rudy Sardenas pinning down Catarino Sanchez.

Still wearing the yellow jersey in Class B was Frank Padla with 4.5 points. Padla rolled in a well-timed Bishop sacrifice into steady Roger Esquivias’s kingside, thus ripping into the latter’s stronghold forcing Esquivias to give up the French Defense encounter in round 4. In the next round, Nestor Ceballos provided the barrier to Padla’s juggernaut by holding the leader to a draw in a thrilling endgame battle of rooks.

Ceballos is solo in second place. In third place with 3.5 points is Bien Pena, who beat Jesse Javier in round 4 and got away with a draw against Lito Daria in round 5. Daria missed a winning rook sacrifice against Pena and had to settle for the draw when he pursued a less complicated line that Pena parried with ease. Equal with Pena is Esquivias, who outclassed Khalid Al Zamil.

In Class C, neophyte Cornelio Pondoc surprised several players by posting a solid 4.5 points. He beat Allan Monilla in 40 moves of a Sicilian skirmish. Ben Garcia, Rey Dimaano, Allan Monila, Noel Gatpatan and Oscar Asis stayed in fray.

Individual standing after Round No. 5: Class A: G. Humangit - 4 pts; G. dela Pena and W. Trinidad - 3.5; E. Valenzuela, A. Zorilla - 3; R. Ancajas and Saleem - 2.5; R. Sadernas, A. Ghamdi and H.Honrado - 2.0; R. Almario - 1.5; Sanchez - 0.5.

Class B: F. Padia - 4.5; N. Ceballos - 4.0; B. Pena and R. Esquivias - 3.5; L. Daria and J. Javier - 3.0; K. Zamil and M. Ordonio - 2.5; A. Abug, A. Uddin and A. Gallardo - 2.0; E. Sumagaysay - 1.5; R. Aro - 1.0.

Class C: C. Pondoc - 4; B. Garcia, A. Mollina, N. Gatpatan, R. Dimaano and O. Asis - 3.5; J. Hermoso, A. Gallardo, C. Gervacio, J. Malto, P. Saquiam and M. Nistar - 2.5; N. Rabanal, J. Salazar and A. Samas - 2.0; F. Fajardo - 1.5; S. Andrews and R. Cortez - 1.0; D. Buenas - 0.5.