Barbosa wins, grabs solo 2nd spot

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia—Grandmaster Oliver Barbosa defeated International Master Jahongir Vakhidov of Uzbekistan on Saturday to keep his hopes alive  in the DYTM Raja Nazrin Shah International Open Chess Championship 2012 at the Olympic Sports Hotel here.

The Taytay, Rizal native Barbosa made full use of his unstoppable pass pawn on the a-file to log the win after 60 pushes of King’s Indian skirmish.

The win raised his total to 5.5 points in seven rounds to grab solo second spot trailing top-seed GM Sergei Tiviakov of the Netherlands.

Tiviakov stopped the juggernaut of unrated Indonesian teenager and 14-year-old Jodi Setyaki Azarya in their Sicilian encounter to push his total to 6.0 points.

Pinoy GM Darwin Laylo was held to a draw by compatriot IM Oliver Dimakiling after 76 moves of Bogo Indian Defense to remain a full point back of the leader with 5.0 points alongside his buddy GM Mark Paragua, who managed to force a draw from a losing position against GM Cao Sang of Vietnam after 94 moves of their Nimzo Indian encounter.

Also with 5.0 points were GMs Raset Ziatdinov of the United States, Nguyen Anh Dung of Vietnam, Deepan Chakkravarthy J. of India, Woman Grandmaster Rout Padmini of India, IMs Rolando Nolte of the Philippines, Nguyen Duc Hoa and Nguyen Van Huy of Vietnam, Vishnu Prasanna V. of India and FIDE Master Ronnie Lim of Malaysia.

Another half point behind with 4.5 points were GM Tahir Vakhidov of Uzbekistan, IM Duong The Anh of Vietnam, FM Julius de Ramos, Rhobel Legaspi, Eden Diano and Franz Barretto.

The tournament organized by Polgar Chess Asia for Kuala Lumpur Chess Association (KLCA) is supported by the Malaysian Chess Federation and sponsored by Masterskill Education Group.

Tournament director is Fide Master Peter Long.