Filipino Grandmaster Oliver Barbosa split a point with top seed GM Le Quang Liem (ELO 2709) of Vietnam after 30 moves of Gruenfeld defense in the eighth and penultimate round to create a seven-way tie for second place in the 3rd HD Bank Cup International Open Chess Tournament 2013 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, over the weekend.
The draw was enough for Le to remain on top going to the last round with 7.0 points.
The Taytay, Rizal native Barbosa raised his total to 6.0 points, the same output with second seed GM Ferenc Berkes (ELO 2702) of Hungrary, GMs Zhou Jianchao, Lu Shanglei, Yu Ruiyuan and Zhou Weiqi of China and countryman GM Mark Paragua.
The Bulacan ace Paragua halved a point with GM Li Shilong of China after 70 moves of King’s Indian defense.
Other Filipino bets in the US$30,000 nine-round Swiss-system tournament are GMs John Paul Gomez, Darwin Laylo, Richard Bitoon and Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr., IM Oliver Dimakiling, FM’s Haridas Pascua and Paulo Bersamina , NMs Stewart Manaog, Nelson Villanueva and Jimson Bitoon.
The Filipino woodpushers are supported by National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) chairman/president Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr., secretary-general and Tagaytay City mayor Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino Jr., executive director GM Jayson Gonzales, grassroots development program head and Bayan Muna Party-List representative Neri Javier Colmenares, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Ricardo Garcia and Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr.