Barbosa gains World Cup berth; So loses in tiebreak

MANILA, Philippines - Filipino grandmaster Oliver Barbosa concluded a successful run in Vietnam Sunday as he finished fifth over-all in the 11th Asian Individual Chess Championships, the qualifying tournament for the Chess Olympiad in October.

The Taytay, Rizal native won on superior tie-break points over fellow six pointers that include GMs Ding Liren (sixth), Ni Hua of China (7), Wesley So (8), Wen Yang (9) and Lu Shanglei of China (10) in the tournament held Sunday at First Hotel, Tan Binh  in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Also with six points was fourth-placed IM Liu Qingnan of China. Each of them received $2,028 from the total prize of $14,200 for fourth-10th placers.

Parimarjan Negi of India defeated fellow seven-pointers Yu Yangyi of China on tie break points to win the title. The duo split the combined prize of $11,000. Saleh A R Salem of UAE scored 6.5 points for solo third and $4,000.

The top five players booked their seat in next year’s World Cup, part of the world championship cycle.

“This is another big achievement in chess. GM Oliver (Barbosa) could have the chance of showing off his mettle, a baptism of fire, so to speak in the World Chess Cup,” said Jayson Gonzales, executive director of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) headed by ‘Butch’ Pichay.

“He (Barbosa) is one of the most talented players here in the Philippines and I wish him good luck in his world chess campaign,” added Ronald Dableo, 2003 Vietnam Asian 3.2a Zonal Championship ruler and World Chess Championship veteran campaigner.

Other Filipino woodpushers who participated in the Asian chess meet are John Paul Gomez (5.5 pts, 12th), Mark Paragua (4.5 pts, 36th), Darwin Laylo (4.0 pts, 46), IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia (4.0 pts, 51), GM Eugene Torre (4.0 pts, 53) and Joey Antonio Jr. (0.5 point, 72) who decided to withdraw in the third round of the nine round Swiss-System tournament.

WGM Irine Kharisma Sukandar of Indonesia tallied 7.0 points to emerge over-all champion in the women’s category. She received $3,000 and a ticket To the Women’s World Championship.

The Filipinos’ campaign is backed up by National Chess Federation of the Philippines chairman/president Butch Pichay Jr.

Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Olympic Committee.

Meanwhile, top seed Gary Garcia  toppled Jose Carlo Castro to lead the opening round winners  in the 2012 National Olympiad Selection/Elimination for National Capital Region at the Philippine Academy for Chess Excellence (PACE) headquarters in #56 Mindanao Avenue, Quezon City. Gladys Hazelle Romero, on the other hand subdued Stella Theresa Aquino to pace the distaff side.-Marlon Bernardino-