Sadorra to Defend U.S. Class Title (Chess)

Alexandra Kosteniuk's Chess Blog for Daily Chess News and Trivia (c) 2013

Hi everyone, 

GM Julio Sadorra, a Senior at University of Texas at Dallas, is set to defend his U.S. Class title, but it will not be easy. Last year, Sadorra finished in a three-way tie for first place in the Masters Division, with IMs Justin Sarkar and Salvijus Bercys, but won the Champion’s plaque on tie-breaks. With the event almost a month away, Sadorra will have plenty of competition as there are five GMs already registered for the event!

Joining Sadorra for this National event in Houston, will be his teammates from the University of Texas at Dallas, Grandmasters Leonid Kritz, Conrad Holt, Ioan Cristian Chirila, and George Margvelashvili. With four players, so far, rated over 2600 USCF, this will be the strongest U.S. Class ever!

The event will take place in the beautiful and spacious facilities of the Marriott Houston South by the Hobby Airport, 27 – 29 September. The originally announced $11,100, based on 200 paid entries, Prize Fund has been increased to $11,500 Guaranteed! Players will compete for National titles and prize money in eight different Classes. In addition to the main event, there will be a one-day, five-round Scholastic tournament on Saturday, 28 September.

Many of the games will be transmitted live on Monroi.com. Check out all the tournament details at http://www.uschess.org/tournaments/2013/class/. The early registration ends on 8 September.

GM Sadorra recently tied for first at the US Open in Madison. Watch a US Chess Scoop video with him on inspiring youngsters at the Denker. 

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's
www.chessblog.com
Also see her personal chess blog
at www.chessqueen.com
Don't miss Chess Queen™
YouTube Channel

Manny Pacquiao Chess Cup Asian Continental 2013: Four Players in Lead

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2013

Hi everyone, 

Manny Pacquiao (centre) watching Filipino GM Julio Sadorra beat IM Wang Chen of China. With Pacquiao are GM Eugene Torre (left) and NCFP Chairman/President Prospero A. Pichay, Jr.

Here is the latest chess news via Fide. Four Philippine players are in the lead pack at the halfway mark of the Manny Pacquiao Chess Cup Asian Continental Chess Championship at the Midas Hotel and Casino in Metro Manila, Philippines. GM Mark Paragua grabbed solo lead with 4.5 points after beating erstwhile leader compatriot Julio Sadorra in the 5th round. Sadorra, a senior business administration student at the University of Texas in Dallas, Filipino GMs John Paul Gomez and Richard Bitoon, top seed Vietnamese GM Le Quang Liem and Chinese GM Li Chao trail by half-point behind with 4 points each.

There was exciting chess in all the rounds. Paragua penetrated the French Defense of Sadorra with his Rook on the seventh rank and delivered checkmate on the 33rd move. Gomez beat Chinese GM Li Shilong, Bitoon outsmarted compatriot GM Joey Antonio, Li Chao smashed GM Dao Thien Hai of Vietnam while Le Quang Liem was held to a draw by GM Lalith Babu of India.

The top five qualify for the World Chess Cup to be held this August in Tromso, Norway.

In the women's chess division, the champion qualifies to next year’s Women’s World Chess Championship. WGM Mary Ann Gomes of India outclassed WGM Guliskhan Nakhbayeva of Kazakhstan to create a four-way tie for first along with IM Batkhuyag Munguntuul of Mongolia, WGMs Guo Qi and Wang Jue of China with 4.0 points each. Munguntuul drew with WGM Huang Qian of China; Guo bested WGM Nguyen Thi Thanh An of Vietnam; Wang nipped WIM Hoang Thi Nhu Y of Vietnam. WFM Antoinette San Diego blasted WGM Swaminathan Soumya of India to lead the group of 3.5 pointers with WGMs Huang Qian and Tan Zhongyi and WIM Ni Shiqun of China, WGM Nafisa Muminova of Uzbekistan and IM Pham Le Thao Nguyen of Vietnam.

The chess tournament is organised by the GM Eugene Torre Chess Foundation and sponsored by eight-division world boxing champion and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao, Cafe Puro, Alaxan, Oriental and Motolite Corp. and held under the auspices of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines, Asian Chess Federation and Fide. Top games are broadcast live on http://www.asianchessonline.com.

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's
www.chessblog.com
Also see her personal blog at
www.chessqueen.com
Don't miss Chess Queen™
YouTube Channel