Barbosa, Gomez still on top after 8th round

STANDINGS (8TH ROUND):

7.0 pts — GM John Paul Gomez (Philippines), GM Oliver Barbosa (Philippines)

6.5 pts — GM Mark Paragua (Philippines), GM Andrei Deviatkin (Russia), GM Evgeny Gleizerov (Russia), IM Das Debashis (India), IM Rathnakaran K (India), IM Shyam Nikil P (India)

FILIPINO Grandmasters Oliver Barbosa and John Paul Gomez scored hard-earned eighth round draws yesterday to remain on top of the 10th Parsvnath International Open Chess Tournament at Ludlow Castle Sports Complex in New Delhi, India.

Barbosa settled for a 92-move draw with Russian GM Andrei Deviatkin in their top board encounter while Gomez split the point with countryman GM Mark Paragua after 26 moves of a London System Opening on Board 2.

Barbosa and Gomez tallied 7.0 points apiece, half point ahead of Paragua, Deviatkin and GM Evgeny Gleizerov of Russia and IMs Das Debashis, Rathnakaran K and Shyam Nikil P of India.

Another Filipino entry GM Richard Bitoon yielded to untitled Karthikeyan Murali of India on Board 27. The Medellin, Cebu native remained with 4.5 points and dropped into a tie for 94th to 135th place.

“We’re in good position after eight rounds. We just hope our players will continue to play well in the succeeding rounds,” said National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) Chairman/Preisdent Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr. who is is fully supporting the players’ overseas campaign as part of the Philippine Team’s preparation for this year’s 38th World Chess Olympiad in Istanbul, Turkey.

In the ninth round, Barbosa battles Gleizerov on Board 1, Gomez plays Nikil P on Board 2, Rathnakaran K, Paragua faces Debashis on Board 4 while Bitoon meets Nasir Ali Syed of India on Board 48. /Correspondent Marlon Bernardino