IM Bitoon, Barbosa keep lead

Standings after round 5

4.5 pts — IM Oliver Barbosa (Philippines), IM Richard Bitoon (Philippines), IM Nguyen Van Huy (Vietnam)

4.0 pts — FM Mari Joseph Turqueza (Philippines), GM Zaw Win Lay (Myanmar), IM Myo Naing (Myanmar), FM Kyaw Lin Naing (Myanmar)

FILIPINO International Masters Oliver Barbosa and Richard Bitoon and Fide Master Mari Joseph Turuqeza were all pushed to the limit before hacking out hard-earned victories in the fifth round of the Florencio Campomanes Memorial Yangon International Open Chess Championship 2011 at the Central Hotel Bogyoke Aung San Road in Yangon, Myanmar over the weekend.

Barbosa, bidding to become the newest Filipino GM, defeated IM Wynn Zaw Htun of Myanmar while the Medellin, Cebu ace Bitoon who is also eyeing to join the elite GM group, smashed IM Shen Siyuan of China. Turqueza meantime, subdued Moe Kyaw of Myanmar.

With their victories, the three Filipino pool woodpushers remained on track for the $3,000 top prize in the nine-round competition held in honor of the late Filipino FIDE President Emeritus Florencio “Pocamps” Campomanes.

Barbosa, the 2011 Moscow Open runner-up and Bitoon, the former Southwestern University top player, both tallied 4.5 points in five rounds to share the lead with IM Nguyen Van Huy of Vietnam who downed IM Atanu Lahiri of India.

The San Sebastian College standout Turqueza, the reigning Philippine Boys Junior champion notched 4.0 points in the company of GM Zaw Win Lay, IM Myo Naing and FM Kyaw Lin Naing of Myanmar.

In the sixth round, Barbosa goes up against countryman Bitoon in an all Filipino showdown on Board 1, Van Huy meets IM Myo on Board 2 while Turqueza battles GM Zaw on Board 3.

The FIDE-sanctioned chess tournament, participated by 47 Myanmar players and 26 international wood pushers China, U.S.A, Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and host Myanmar.