2 GM norms at Battle of the GMs

2 Pinoys secure GM norms in Battle of GMs
abs-cbnNEWS.com
Posted at 07/21/2011 5:30 PM | Updated as of 07/21/2011 5:30 PM

MANILA, Philippines – International Masters (IM) Richard Bitoon and Oliver Barbosa earned their grandmaster (GM) norms in the 9th round of the National Chess Championship: 4th Battle of the Grandmasters.

Bitoon defeated GM John Paul Gomez after 38 moves of Sicilian while Barbosa halved the point with GM Mark Paragua after 31 moves of Slav to collect their respective norms.

Bitoon and Barbosa now each have two GM norms under their belt.

Bitoon got his first during the 2008 Singapore International Open while Barbosa earned his during the 10th Asian Continental Individual Chess Championships last May.

“Nakahinga na ako ng maluwag, at least nakuha na natin ang 2nd GM Norm,” said Barbosa.

“Masayang-masaya ako sa pagkopo ng 2nd GM norm,” said Bitoon.

Bitoon and Barbosa tallied a total of 6 points each after 9 rounds of play.

So draws with Torre

So halved the point with Asia’s first GM Eugene Torre after 35 moves of London System Opening.

He now has a total of 6.5 points.

It was So’s fifth straight draw after clustering 4 wins in the tournament supported by Pilipinas Shell, Manila Pavilion Waterfront Hotel and Casino, Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, NPC, Remate at Hataw (JSY Publication). – By Marlon Bernardino

Source: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com

Two share lead at Battle of the GMs

So, Bitoon in big starts in Battle of GMs
Published : Sunday, July 17, 2011 00:00
Written by : Ed Andaya

Standings after first round:

1 points -- W. So, R. Bitoon
.5 -- R. Antonio, E. Torre, M. Paragua, D. Laylo, J. Gomez, R. Barcenilla, O. Barbosa, R. Salvador, R. Nolte, J. Garcia
0 -- J. Sanchez, Y. Ranola

Pairings for second round:

W. So vs. R. Antonio, Y. Ranola vs. J. Garcia, J. Gomez vs. R. Nolte, O. Barbosa vs. R. Barcenilla, E. Torre vs. R. Salvador, M. Paragua vs. J. Sanchez, R. Bitoon vs. D. Laylo.

DEFENDING champion GM Wesley So served notice of his title-retention bid with a masterful win over GM Joseph Sanchez at the start of the fourth ‘Battle of GMs’ chess championship at the National Press Club Bldg. in Intramuros, Manila.

So, who finished a fighting fourth in the recent AAI chess tournament in New Delhi, India early this month, played almost flawlessly to subdue the Europe-based Sanchez in only 35 moves of the Sicilian Najdorf.

“Medyo mahirap pero napagtiyagaan sa huli,” said the 17-year-old Filipino champion, who is hoping to assert his supremacy in local chess for thefourth straight year.

The pride of Bacoor, Cavite is also hoping to redeem himself after watching his FIDE rating drop to No. 89 in the latest list from a high of No. 75.

Up next for So in the tough, 14-player, 13-round competition which offers the top prize of P150,000 is GM Rogelio Antonio, Jr. who split the point with Asia’s first GM Eugene Torre in 31 moves of the King’s Pawn game.

Sharing the limelight with So is GM-candidate Richard Bitoon, who made short work of IM Yves Ranola in only 24 moves of the English opening.

Bitoon, the multi-awarded campaigner from Medelin, Cebu, pounced on a fatal blunder by Ranola -- 22. f5 -- to eke out the win.

With the prospect of losing his queen, Ranola resigned two moves later.

“Maganda yung chances ko, especially after nung blunder niya. Meron pang mating attack ako ,” said Bitoon when asked about the victory..

Newly-crowned Campomanes Memorial Cup champion IM Oliver Barbosa also settled for with GM Roland Salvador in 31 moves of another Sicilian to lead a big group of players with half point.

“Mahirap pilitin kaya ayos na din itong tabla sa first round,” said Barbosa, who is also fresh from topping the AFPI “Chess for a Cause” tournament at the Philippine Army gym in Fort Bonifacio.

Also drawing their matches were World Cup qualifier GM Mark Paragaua and Pichay Cup champion GM Darwin Laylo in 35 moves of the Sicilian; comebacking two-time Asian junior champion GM Rogelio Barcenilla Jr.. and GM John Paul Gomez in 31 moves of another Sicilian; and IM Rolando Nolte against IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia.

Barcenilla, who topped the Asian junior championship in Dubai, UAE in 1989 and Calicut, India in 1991, is making his first appearance in the country since achieving his long-overdue GM title during the recent FIDE Congress.

The annual tournament is supported by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), , National Press Club and Pilipinas Shell.

Source: http://www.journal.com.ph

Aiming for another title

So shoots for 4th Battle of GMs title
abs-cbnNEWS.com
Posted at 07/14/2011 7:44 PM | Updated as of 07/14/2011 7:44 PM

MANILA, Philippines – Filipino Grandmaster (GM) Wesley So will begin his title retention bid in the Battle of the Grandmasters National Championship on Saturday (July 16) at the National Press Club (NPC), in Intramuros, Manila.

So will be gunning for his 4th straight title in the event organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP).

He will have his hands full this time as 8 other GMs and a mixture of established and upcoming stars gang up on him in the Category 11 tournament (average ELO rating of 2508).

The 5 international masters (IM) participating this year need to score at least 8.5 points to get a GM norm.

The event was declared a “closed tournament," which means that the competition will be limited to local players only.

“This is a huge step forward in our bid to produce more grandmasters in our country,” said NCFP President Prospero “Butch” Pichay, Jr.

Seeing action in the tournament are GMs Darwin Laylo, John Paul Gomez, Joseph Sanchez, Roland Salvador, Rogelio “Banjo” Barcenilla, Eugene Torre, GM Rogelio “Joey” Antonio, and Mark Paragua.

“Anything can happen in a round-robin competition,” said Torre, the most successful local player in closed tournaments.

IMs Oliver Barbosa, Richard Bitoon, Rolando Nolte, Jan Emmanuel Garcia and Yves Ranola are also competing.

In the distaff side, Woman National Master (WNM) Rulp Ylem Jose will try to defend her title against a strong field that includes Woman International Masters (WIMs) Catherine Perena and Beverly Mendoza.

The event is sponsored by Pilipinas Shell, Manila Pavilion Waterfront Hotel and Casino, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), NPC, Remate and Hataw. – By Marlon Bernardino

Source: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com