Barbosa beats Iranian, nears GM norm
abs-cbnNEWS.com
Posted at 05/08/2011 5:57 PM | Updated as of 05/08/2011 5:57 PM
MANILA, Philippines – Filipino International Master (IM) Oliver Barbosa defeated Iranian IM Alavi Sayed Javad in the 6th round to boost his chance to gain a first Grandmaster (GM) norm in the Asian Continental Individual chess championship in Mashhad, Iran on Saturday.
With the win, Barbosa maintained a share of the 13th place with 3.5 points along with compatriot GMs Wesley So, Mark Paragua and John Paul Gomez.
Other 13th placers are GM Anuar Ismagambetov of Kazakhstan, GM Zhou Weiqi of China, IM Yang Kaiqi and Lu Shanglei of China and GM Rustam Kasimdhanov of Uzbekistan.
So split the point with IM Shyam Sundar M of India, while Paragua settled a truce with IM Vidit Santosh Gujrathi of India. Gomez toppled FM Pourramezanali Amirreza of Iran.
Barbosa needed to score at least 5.5 points in 9 outings to get his first GM norm, according to National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) chairman Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr.
Meanwhile, the NCFP mourns the death of its executive director Wilfredo “Kuya Willy” Abalos.
Abalos passed away on Sunday, according to his best friend Ilann Perez.
His body lies in state at St. Peter’s Chapel in Quezon City. – By Marlon Bernardino
Source: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com
How’s So?