IM Barbosa rules AFPI chess, earns SEAG slot
INTERNATIONAL Master Oliver Barbosa scored 8.0 points in nine rounds last Sunday to rule the 2011 Artillery Foundation of the Philippines, Inc. (AFPI) “Chess for a Cause” national rapid chess championships at the Philippine Army Gymnasium in Fort Bonifacio, Makati City.
The country’s eighth-ranked player from Taytay, Rizal pocketed P20,000 in the event which drew 96 players. More importantly, the 2011 Moscow Open runner-up will represent the country in the rapid chess event of the 2011 Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) in Palembang, Indonesia this November.
Barbosa will next compete in the Florencio Campomanes Memorial International Open Chess Championships on July 5 to 11 in Myanmar where he hopes to get his second GM norm. He earned his first in the 10th Asian Continental Individual chess championships in Mashhad, Iran last May.
Joining Barbosa in Myanmar are Cebuano IM Richard Bitoon and FM Mari Joseph Turqueza. The trio’s trip is bankrolled by National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) President/ Chairman Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr.
Barbosa’s only loss in the AFPI event was inflicted by GM Mark Paragua in the ninth and final round. Paragua finished in a tie for 2nd to 4th spots with GM Darwin Laylo and IM Chito Garma.
After the tie break was applied, Laylo settled in second place, Paragua landed at third and Garma was in fourth. The three received P10,665 each.
GM Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr. and GM Deniel Causo were tied at 5th to 6th places worth P4,500 each.
Rounding up to the Top 11 finishers were IM Roland Nolte (6.5 pts.), FM Jan Emmanuel Garcia (6.5 pts.), Cebuano IM Barlo Nadera (6.5 pts.), NM Raymond Salcedo (6.5 pts.) and NM Ronald Llavanes (6.5 pts.).
WOMEN’S WINNERS
Meanwhile, WFM Cherry Ann Mejia edged WIM Catherine Perena in the tie break to secure the women’s title.
Mejia and Perena both tallied 7.5 points and will represent the country in the rapid chess event of the 2011 SEAG.
At third is former Far Eastern University (FEU) star WFM Rulp Ylem Jose with 7 points.
Mark James Marcellana topped the kiddies division with 7.5 points while at 2nd to 4th places with 6.5 points apiece were Daryl Unix Samantila, Giovanni Mejia and Dennis Gutierrez Jr.
The tournament was organized by the Artillery Foundation of the Philippines, Inc. (AFPI) and is sanctioned by the NCFP in cooperation with the Philippine Academy for Chess Excellence.
