Pinoy Barbosa hastens chances for first GM norm

FILIPINO International Master (IM) Oliver Barbosa defeated Iranian IM Alavi Sayed Javad in the sixth round to boost his chance for a first Grandmaster (GM) norm in the ongoing 10th Asian Continental Individual chess championships at the Hotel Pardisan in Mashhad, Iran on Saturday.

The Taytay, Rizal ace Barbosa, thus, maintained himself in joint 13th place with 3.5 points along with compatriots GM Wesley So, GM Mark Paragua and GM John Paul Gomez, GM Anuar Ismagambetov of Kazakhstan, GM Zhou Weiqi, IM Yang Kaiqi and Lu Shanglei of China and former world champion GM Rustam Kasimdhanov (2685) of Uzbekistan, his seventh round opponent.

So split a point with IM Shyam Sundar M of India, Paragua halved a point with IM Vidit Santosh Gujrathi of India and Gomez toppled FM Pourramezanali Amirreza of Iran.

Kasimdhanov, who captured the World Chess Crown by beating Briton GM Michael Adams during their title match in 2004 World Championships in Tripoli, Libya, settled for a truce with Indian GM Parimarjan Negi.

With the norm in sight, Barbosa needs to score at least 5.5 points in nine outings to bag his first GM Norm.

The No. 27 Barbosa, who hold an Elo rating of 2506, drew his first three games against higher rated opponents in the likes of No.2 GM Krishnan Sasikiran (2676) of India, No.8 GM Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son (2635) of Vietnam and No.12 GM Ehsan Ghaem Maghami (2606) of Iran, respectively.

He beat No.42 FM Al-Ali Hussein Ali Hussein (2394) of Iran in the fourth, bowed to No.14 GM Zhao Jun (2574) of China in the fifth before beating No.38 IM Alavi (2428).

“Sana makuha ko na ang GM norm dito sa Iran. Malaki ang chance ko dito kasi Asian Continental Championships ito,” said Barbosa.

GM Darwin Laylo, meantime succumbed to Indian GM Adhiban B. The San Roque, Marikina City bet Laylo remains with 3 points and was dropped into a tie for 22nd to 31st places.

Meanwhile, GM Yu Yangyi of China settled for a draw with GM Pentala Harikrishna of India to stay on top of the board with 5 points.

Sasikiran outclassed GM Zhou Weiqi of China to share with Harikrishna 2nd to 3rd places with 4.5 points apiece.

The top four finishers in the annual tournament will earn the right to represent the region in the 2011 World Cup scheduled in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia later this year. /correspondent Marlon Bernardino