IM Garcia draws 7th round match, bolsters bid for first GM norm in Aeroflot chess

FILIPINO International Master (IM) Jan Emmanuel Garcia settled for a 7th round draw with Indian Grandmaster (GM) Tejas Bakre on Monday to boost his chances of gaining his first Grandmaster (GM) norm in the Group B division of the 11th Aeroflot Open Chess Championships 2012 at the Hotel Cosmos in Moscow, Russia.

The top player of Ateneo de Manila University raised his total to 4.0 points on account of two wins and four draws and a loss in the first round via default.

Garcia shares 32nd to 50th place in the field of 130 players.

Meanwhile, compatriot GM John Paul Gomez subdued Russian Fide Master (FM) Shardul Gagare to improve his tally to 3.0 points, good for a share of 82nd to 97th place.

GM Emre Can of Turkmenistan drew with IM Grigory Oparin of Russia to remain on top with 6.5 points.

In the eighth round, Garcia will face GM Alexey Kislinsky of the Czech Republic while Gomez will meet GM Arseny Alavkin of Russia.

National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) chair-president Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr., Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Ricardo “Richie” Garcia and Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco are supporting the players’ overseas campaign as part of the Philippine Team’s preparation for this year’s 38th World Chess Olympiad in Istanbul, Turkey. /Correspondent Marlon Bernardino