Super GM Barbosa eyeing HD Bank crown

A DOZEN Filipino woodpushers led by reigning 10th Parsvnath International Grandmasters Chess Tournament champion and new Super Grandmaster Oliver Barbosa will see action in the 2nd HDBank Cup International Open Chess tournament 2012 which runs from from March 1 to 8 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

“I hope to do well in the 2nd HDBank Cup in Vietnam,” said the Taytay, Rizal native Barbosa, who became only the country’s third Super Grandmaster after he improved his Elo rating points to 2627 following his emphatic win in India.

A chess player who breaches the 2600 Elo rating barrier will be automatically be known as a Super Grandmaster – a title given to all elite GMs.

The former University of the Philippines (UP) mainstay Barbosa along with GM John Paul Gomez (2nd place) and GM Mark Paragua (4th place) just arrived in the country on Wednesday.

National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) Chairman/President Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr., Executive Director GM Jayson Gonzales and Treasurer Red Dumuk met the triumphant Pinoys at the airport and congratulated GMs Barbosa, Gomez and Paragua for their 1-2-4 finish in the Delhi Open chess meet.

“We’ll keep sending them abroad to gain exposures and improve their respective Elo ratings,” said Pichay, 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.

Joining Barbosa in the 2nd HDBank Cup International Open Chess tournament which offers $10,000 to the champion are Gomez, Paragua, IMs Rolando Nolte, Ronald Bancod and Emmanuel Senador, FM Christopher Castellano and US master Albert Rivera, among others. /Correspondent Marlon Bernardino