Final Standings:
7.5 pts — GM Li Shilong (CHN)
7.0 pts — IM Lu Shanglei (CHN), GM Wen Yang (CHN)
6.5 pts — Wan Yunguo (CHN), GM Wang Rui (CHN), WGM Ju Wenjun (CHN), GM Joseph Sanchez (PHI)
6.0 pts — IM Oliver Dimakiling (PHI), GM Roland Salvador (PHI), IM Nguyen Doc Hoa (VIET), Yu Ruiyuan (CHN), IM Rolando Nolte (PHI), IM Yu Lie (CHN), GM Dao Thien Hai (VIET), Cris Ian Udani (PHI), GM Eldar Gasanov (UKR), WIM Nafisa Muminova (UZB), Sinurat Tumpak (INA)
PARIS-based Cebuano Grandmaster Joseph Sanchez made the country proud anew when he finished in a tie for fourth to seventh places in the 8th Dato’ Arthur Tan Malaysia Open Chess 2011 which ended last Thursday at the Cititel Midvalley Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The 40-year-old Sanchez, whose mother is from Samboan, southern Cebu, tallied 6.5 points in the nine-round tournament and tied with GM Wang Rui, WGM Ju Wenjun and Wan Yunguo of China.
GM Li Shilong of China won the tournament with 7.5 points, half a point ahead of compatriots GM Wen Yang and IM Lu Shanglei of China who both finished with 7.0 points.
Italy-based GM Roland Salvador, IM Oliver Dimakiling, IM Rolando Nolte and Malaysia-based Pinoy Cris Ian Udani were tied for 8th to 18th spots with 6.0 points in the company of GM Eldar Gasanov of Ukraine, GM Dao Thien Hai and IM Nguyen Doc Hoa of Vietnam, WIM Nafisa Muminova of Uzbekistan, IM Yu Lie and Yu Ruiyuan of China and Sinurat Tumpak of Indonesia.
Other top Filipinos who competed in the World Chess Federation-sanctioned tournament were IM Oliver Barbosa (5.5 pts.), Cebuano IM Richard Bitoon (5.5 pts.), GM Darwin Laylo (5.0 pts.), Nelson “Elo” Mariano III (5.0 pts.), NM Edgar Reggie Olay (5.0 pts.) and IM Richilieu Salcedo (4.5 pts.).
The nine-round Swiss-system tournament is participated by woodpushers from China, Philippines, Vietnam, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Indonesia, Australia, India, Hongkong, Singapore, Japan, New Zealand, Libya, France, Sri Lanka, Germany, Brunei, Republic of South Africa, Fiji, England, Iran and Malaysia.