Barbosa edges Indian GM, rules Hong Kong chess tiff

MANILA, Philippines – Filipino Grandmaster Oliver Barbosa downed Indian International Master Subbaraman Vijayalakshmi to rule the Hong Kong International Open Chess Championships 2015 Monday night.

Barbosa, seeded third, actually ended up tied with second seed Chinese GM Zeng Chongsheng with 7.5 points in nine rounds but the Olympiad veteran beat the latter in the tiebreaker, 48.5-45.5, to take the crown.

It was an important victory for Barbosa, who is seeking to rebound from his early struggles that saw his FIDE rating plummet to 2501.

Chongsheng trounced untitled Filipino Nelson Villanueva to catch up on Barbosa.

Another Filipino bet, GM Darwin Laylo, held top seed GM Gao Rui of China to a fighting draw to wind up at joint fourth with Chinese FIDE Master Yu Kaifeng, who won over Hong Kong's Chan Chak Man, with 6.5 points apiece.

Gao finished at solo third with seven points.

Villanueva still managed to finish in the top 10 despite the loss, joining seven other woodpushers with six points each including countrywoman Mikee Charlene Suede, who overpowered Hong Kong's Chong Chor Yuen with black.