Top Chinese GM due today for RP Open

Chinese Grandmaster Zhang Pengxiang and a slew of foreign challengers arrive today for the 2007 Philippine Open International Chess Championship starting tomorrow at the El Centro Convention Center of the Legenda Hotel in Subic.

Zhang, the top seed in this event with an ELO rating of 2657, tows with him compatriots GMs Wang Yue (2656), Ni Hua (2654), Wang Hao (2638), Zhang Zhong (2621), Zhao Jun (2554) and Li Shilong (2525) and International Masters Li Chao, Zhang Zhiyang and Xie Deshun, all raring to go against the Filipinos.

Also arriving are GM Varushan Akobian (2574) of the United States, GMs Utut Adianto (2587) and Susanto Megaranto (2530), IM Halya Taufik and WFM Irene Sukandar of Indonesia and GM Maghami Ehsan Ghaem (2559) of Iran.

Filipino GMs Mark Paragua, Eugene Torre and Joey Antonio will spearhead the RP challenge while Singapore-based GMs Bong Villamayor and Nelson Mariano II have yet to confirm their participation.

The 56-year-old Torre, a perennial top board player in the RP team in Olympiad, and Paragua, who has decided to call off his plan to relocate in Singapore, will vie for the top purse amounting to $6,000 (P300,000).

Antonio, now the country’s highest rated player with a 2539 rating, will be coming in from a strong second place finish in a tournament in Phuket, Thailand.

Teenage phenom Wesley So will also be featured in the event as he seeks to close in on a GM title.

So, 13, recently zoomed to No. 4 in the national rankings after he breached the 2500 mark with a rating of 2519 and would only need to clinch the last two of the three needed results to become a full-pledge GM.

Zhang, who topped the President Arroyo Cup in November last year, and NCFP chief Surigao del Sur Congressman Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr. will make the ceremonial moves at 3 p.m. tomorrow. – Joey Villar