Filipino Paragua gains share of lead in Int’l GM Chess

Individual standings after ninth round:

7.5 points—GM Mark Paragua  (PHILIPPINES)

7.5 points—GM John Paul Gomez (PHILIPPINES)

7.5 points—GM Oliver Barbosa (PHILIPPINES)

7 points—GM Andrei Deviatkin (Russia)

7 points—GM Evgeny Gleizerov (Russia)

7 points—GM Deepan Chakkravarthy (India)

7 points—IM Rathnakaran K (India)

7 points—IM Vaibhav Suri (India)

7 points— IM Lalith Babu M R (India),

7 points— IM Vishnu Prasanna V (India)

7 points— IM Shyam Nikil P (India)

7 points—IM Nitin S (India)

7 points— IM Kuderinov Kiril (Kazakhstan)

7 points—Ma Qun (China)

FILIPINO Mark Paragua subdued Indian International Master Debashis Das in the ninth round to join countrymen and fellow grandmasters (GM) John Paul Gomez and Oliver Barbosa at the top in the ongoing 10th Parsvnath International Grandmasters Chess Tournament at the Ludlow Castle Sports Complex in New Delhi, India late Saturday.

The Bulacan-based Paragua prevailed using the advantageous white pieces after 36 moves of Semi-Slav variation.

“Mark showed sheer attacking game with three continuous piece sacrifices in the middle of the game to garner a full point against his Indian rival,” said National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) Chairman/President Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr., who was watching the tournament live through the Internet.

“We just hope our players will continue to play well in the succeeding rounds.”

This tournament is part of the Philippine Team’s preparation for this year’s 38th World Chess Olympiad in Istanbul, Turkey.

The Binan, Laguna-based Gomez, on the other hand, halved a point with IM Shyam Nikil P of India after 48 moves of French defense while the Taytay, Rizal ace Barbosa drew with GM Evgeny Gleizerov of Russia after 29 moves of Queen’s Pawn Game.

Paragua, Gomez and Barbosa now have 7.5 points after nine outings. They are half-a-point ahead of GMs Andrei Deviatkin and Evgeny Gleizerov of Russia, GM Deepan Chakkravarthy J, IMs Rathnakaran K, Vaibhav Suri, Lalith Babu M R, Vishnu Prasanna V, Shyam Nikil P and Nitin S of India, IM Kuderinov Kiril of Kazakhstan and Ma Qun of China.

Meanwhile, GM Richard Bitoon from Medellin, Cebu toppled Nasir Ali Syed of India to raise his total to 5.5 points to share 60th to 91st places. /correspondent Marlon Bernardino