Popov keeps edge in PSC int’l chess

MANILA, Philippines - Russian GM Ivan Popov scored 1.5 points in the last two rounds and remained on top of the heap after eight rounds of the PSC-Puregold International Chess Challenge at Celebrity Sports Plaza in Quezon City.

The top-seeded Popov drew with Armenian GM Avetik Grigoryan in the seventh round late Thursday then overwhelmed IM Haridas Pascua yesterday to cling on to a half-point lead with 6.5 points heading to the last two rounds of the $30,000 tournament.

GM John Paul Gomez also drew with Indian IM Narayanan Sunilduth Lyna then Grigoryan to stay in the title hunt with six points, the same output put in by another Russian GM Anton Demchenko, who posted back-to-back victories over Filipino GMs Oliver Barbosa and Julio Catalino Sadorra in the Open division of the event sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission and Puregold.

The US-based Sadorra, who beat IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia Thursday, remained at 5.5 points in a tie with Sunilduth Lyna and veteran GM Rogelio Antonio. Lyna stunned Georgian GM Levan Pantsulaia in a fitting

follow-up to his conquest of Alcon John Datu in the seventh round of the tournament.

The pivotal ninth round was being played last night with 12-time national champion Antonio, who beat Mongolian Fide Master Bilguun Sumiya, trying to stop Popov with the white pieces.

Other key matches pitted Gomez against Demchenko, Sadorra against Sunilduth Lyna, Pantsulaia, winner of last week’s Philippine International Chess Championship, against Pascua, Laylo against Grigoryan, Georgian GM Merab Gagunashvili (5.0 points) against IM Emmanuel Senador (5.0) and Garcia (5.0) against Russian GM Mikhail Mozharov (5.0).

The tournament, organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines and supported by Asia United Bank, Burlington, Microtel and Harold’s Hotel, offers $5,000 to the champion.