From chessheroes blog citing NM Marlon's article :
Early results and reports from the 4th PGMA Cup
Chess journalist, NM Marlon Bernardino was there at the Duty Free Mall and we've just received some early results and reports for our Filipino players competing here at 4th PGMA Cup. Surprisingly, your defending 2008 PGMA Cup champion, GM Eugene Torre was held to a draw by NM Ali Branzuela. Meanwhile, 17 years old NM Haridas Pascua also did fair enough as he also held Vietnamese GM Dao Thien Hai (2542) to a draw.

Standings and complete results will be followed soon.

PARAGUA, DABLEO OFF TO GOOD START; RIVERA HALVED THE POINT WITH GM GONZALES

BY: MARLON BERNARDINO

GM Mark Paragua and GM-elect Ronald Dableo waylaid their respective foes to jump-start their bids in the 4th President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Cup International Chess Championship Thursday at the Duty Free Fiestamall, Paranaque City.

Paragua, who is fresh from winning the Asian Indoor Games qualifying event two weeks ago blasted journeyman Rainier Labay after 29 moves of King's Indian Defense while Dableo, who clinched his third and final GM norm in the Malaysian Open in Kuala Lumpur, bested unheralded Angel Cordero after 44 moves of French Defense.

" Mali siguro 'yung Queen side castle ni Rainier (Labay) kaya nakalamang ako ng posisyon, saka malakas ang pagkaposte ng knight ko sa d4," said Paragua, the 2003 Vietnam Southeast Asian Games most bemedalled athlete.

" Pero magaling talaga si Rainer at beteranong player na iyan," added the amiable Paragua.

Labay, on his part, "Tama din si Mark (Paragua), puwede din naman akong hindi mag castle sa Queen side,"

Sharing the limelight is reigning RP artists Albert Rivera, who held GM Jayson Gonzales into a draw after 36 moves of London System Opening. "Mahirap pilitin baka matalo pa, s'yempre iba talaga pag grandmaster ang kalaban mo, at least maganda ang simula natin," said Rivera, a businessman in profession.

IM Chito Garma is the first Filipino casualty against their foreign counterpart. The Tondo, Manila born Garma bowed to Georgian GM Merab Gagunashvili after 46 moves of Nimzo-Indian Defense.

After Garma's setback, NM Efren Bagamasbad also yielded to Armenian GM Tigran Kotanjian after 34 moves of King's Indian Defense. Singaporean GM Wong Meng Kong, meanwhile opened his bid in a bright note after beating Fil-Am Danilo Jorda in just 28 moves of Reti Opening.

International Masters Barlo Nadera and Emmanuel Senador also won their respective matches. The Mandaue, Cebu Nadera outpointed Lyndon Lumancas after 26 moves of Gruenfled Defense while the Iloilo native Senador nipped Ben Polao after 29 moves of Sicilian Defense.

Defending champion Eugene Torre, Asia's First GM, drew his first match to PNP player NM Ali Branzuela.

Here's a feature starring you after said big rd2 win :

Paragua, Dableo upend fancied foreign rivals
(The Philippine Star) Updated September 26, 2009 12:00 AM

Top seed Grandmaster Mikhal Mchedlishvili. Jun Mendoza Standings After Two Rounds: (RP Unless Stated)

2 points - J. Gomez, M. Paragua, R. Dableo, B. Nadera, M. K. Wong (Singapore)

1.5 -- M. Mchedlishvili (Georgia), A. Fillipov (Uzbekistan), N.T. Nguyen (Vietnam), E. Ghaemmaghami (Iran), N. Das (India), P. Kostenko (Kazakhstan), A. Ismagambetov (Kazakhstan), T.H. Dao (Vietnam), R. Antonio, J. Gonzales, R. Bitoon, B. Villamayor, O. Dimakiling, Tirto (Indonesia), E. Legapsi, D. Elorta, J, Morazo

MANILA, Philippines - Filipino players made their presence felt in the fourth President Arroyo Cup international chess championship, with GM Mark Paragua and GM-elect Ronald Dableo leading the charge with upset victories over their higher-rated foreign rivals at the Duty Free Fiesta Mall in Parañaque City.

Paragua pulled the rug from under second seed GM Gopal Nayanan of India in the biggest upset win so far in this tough, six-day tournament organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) in honor of President Arroyo.

And Dableo, who nailed his third and last GM norm during the Kuala Lumpur Open last month, shocked sixth seed GM Merab Gagunashvili of Georgia to boost his chances for the title and the top prize of $6,000.

Paragua, seeded only 15th with an ELO of 2501, whipped Rainier Labay , while Dableo, ranked 23rd with an ELO of 2417 humbled Angel Cordero in the first round.

Dresden Olympiad sensation GM John Paul Gomez trounced Conrado Diaz in the first round and subdued Emmanuel Senador in the second round, while IM Barlo Nadera outclassed Lyndon Lumancas in the first round and upset No. 10 seed GM Darwin Laylo in the second round to join Paragua and Dableo in the lead pack in this 56-player field.

Defending champion GM Eugene Torre struggled with his title-retention bid, drawing with compatriots No. 38 Ali Branzuela and No. 40 Allan Macala.

No. 25 seed GM Meng Kong Wong of Singapore emerged as the only foreign player with two points after beating Danilo Jorda and No. 8 GM Tigran Kotanjian of Armenia.

Seventeen players, led by top seed GM Mikhal Mchedlishvili of Georgia and World Cup-bound GM Rogelio Antonio Jr., stayed within striking distance with 1.5 points out of a possible two in this tournament supported by the Department of Tourism, Duty Free, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Pagcor, Crown Regency Hotel, and Local Water Utilities Administration.

Mchedlishvili, the highest-rated player here with an ELO of 2613, was held to a draw by David Eorta in the first round but bounced back to beat Reggie Olya in the second round.

Antonio, the highest-rated Filipino players here in the absence of GM Wesley So, split the point with Olay in the first round before crushing FM Haridas Pascua the following round.

+1.9 LABAY Rainier 2248 Win
+6.3 NAYANAN Getha Gopal 2598 Win
-6.3 WONG Meng Kong 2403 Lose
+0.9 GAGUNASHVILI Merab 2564 Draw
-3.5 MCHEDLISHVILI Mikhael 2613 Lose
-7.2 GARMA Chito 2331 Lose
+2.1 NADIG Krutika 2273 Win
-7.5 PASCUA Haridas 2310 Lose
+3.2 ELORTA David 2364 Win

Name PARAGUA Mark
Title gm
Starting rank 16
Rating international 2501
Ratingperformance 2528
Points 5,5
Rank 11
Federation PHI

I was seated at the sidelines when I suddenly saw GM Macky and a foreign GM report to the arbiter's table. it was an early draw, halos 30 minutes pa lang yata.

GM Macky was then relaxing ang watching other games in progress and in one of his walking, I crossed his path and introduced myself.

The GM was very soft spoken and magalang,"Ah, kayo po pala si Sir Rolly. Ok po ako sa simul basta after the Indoor Games next month, mga 3rd or 4th week po siguro ng Nov." His father Ric was besides us and was telling GM Macky that he should take the chance to help our country's blind players who have consistently brought the gold.

Thus, the simul fund-raising saga will continue after tomorrow's episode by GM Jayson and will be called the GM Macky Simul for the Blind.

As usual, our registration fee is P500 per board. RSVP.

Noted the tentative sked in later part of Nov. Hope magtapat yung skeds.

Thursday, October 22, 2009
GM Mark Paragua tries to break Guinness simul chess world record dubbed as "1 vs 600: Beat the Mark" PHOTO shown (from left to right) Albert Rivera, RP and US Master Almario Marlon Bernardino Jr., Robert Racasa, GM Mark Paragua, Department of Tourism (DOT) Undersecretary for Sports and Wellness Ms. Cynthia Carrion and Noli Cruz during a courtesy call of the organizing group Touch of Gold Enterprises at the Department of Tourism in T. M. Kalaw, Manila.

By: Marlon Bernardino

Mark Paragua, the first Filipino to reach super grandmaster status, aims to put the Philippines in the world chess map once again as he tries to break the Guinness simultaneous chess world record on December 27 to 28, 2009.

The two-day event will be held at the historic Ninoy Aquino Stadium or San Andres Gymnasium in Manila.

“The ultimate test for mind and body endurance dubbed as “1 vs. 600: Beat the MARK” will pit the young grandmaster against 600 players at the same time. There will also be 400 reserves for a total of 1,000 opposing players present during the event.” Said journalist Noli Sangil Cruz.

The current record is held by Iranian GM Morteza Mahjoob, who faced 500 opponents simultaneously last August 13, 2009 at the Engelab Sports Complex in Tehran, Iran.

The Guinness World Record for the largest number of simultaneous games played in a single session was initially set in 1996 Swedish Grandmaster Ulf Anderson, who took on 310 opponents. This record was broken in 2004 by British IM Andrew Martin, author of many of our openings training DVDs. Martin played against 321 opponents, scoring 294 wins, 26 draws and 1 loss for a winning percentage of 95.64%. In August 2005 GM Susan Polgar played against 350 players simultaneously at the Gardens Mall in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Finally, in February this year, Bulgarian GM Kiril Georgiev played a simultaneous exhibition against 360 opponents before broke by Morteza.

Paragua’s second/ trainer will be Asia’s First GM Eugene Torre and World Chess Cup bound GM Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr. in the event organized by Touch of Gold Enterprises in close cooperation with the Department of Tourism, Manila Sports Council (MASCO) Chairman Niño dela Cruz, City of Manila, Filway Marketings Inc. CEO/ President Hector "Chito" Tagaysay and Meralco Chess Club.

God Bless nga pala sa attempt mo to break the world record. I know u can do it. regards pala sa tatay ric mo.

Congratulations on your latest triumph in the recent Gov Espino chess event in Pangasinan! Hope your recovery back to 2600+ level continues!

I will definitely take time to be part of GM Mac mac's simul this November!

I have the honor to announce that the 4th fund-raising simul will push through as planned on Nov 28, 9am at MERALCO, Ortigas Center, Pasig City.

As planned, GM Mark "The Big Mac" Paragua will share his God-given chess talent to make a joyful Christmas for our physically handicapped bro's of the RP Paralympics Chess Team.

As planned, entry fee is P500 per board. And the early birds are: 1 Spawn2 of BW
2 Rolly of MERALCO Chess Club
3 Darryl of MERALCO Chess Club
4 Pau of MERALCO Chess Club
5 Rudy of PARA

Aside from the donations that the PARA are getting, very thankful din sila sa chance na makalaro with GMs. Sabi nga nila ay kahit walang ibigay sa kanila ay OK lang. Gusto lang nilang ma-praktis.

Regarding naman sa chess set donation for them from the proceeds of the GM jayson simul last Oct, I have already bought the standard chess set for Alexis at yung 6 naman for the blinds and partially blinds ay na-order ko na sa Paete. It will be the 12 x 12 narra set pero lalagyan ng butas ang mga squares at may pang-tusok ang mga pieces! The shops normally sells these types in pocket size sets, so this is specially made. I just hope na mai-deliver dito before Nov 28 or else sa Dec 12 Christmas Cup na lang ang turn-over.