Philippines' GM Oliver Barbosa wins Kolkata Chess Open 2014

Chess Blog for Daily Chess News and Trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2014

Hello everyone,

Grandmaster Oliver Barbosa of the Philippines beat MR Lalith Babu on better tiebreak to win the 19th International Open GM Chess Tournament in Kolkata on Sunday. Both scored 7.5 points in ten rounds. 

In the last round, the Slav defence game between Oliver Barbosa and Ziaur Rahman ended in a draw after 38 well-fought moves, with both having queens, a minor piece and three pawns each. Oliver had to patiently wait for the game between Lalith and Vidit to get confirmation of his title, as a win for Vidit would have put Vidit on the top.

Lalith Babu shattered the dreams of Vidit to clinch the title in the Queens Indian defence employed by him, After Vidit exchanged the queens on 23rd move, Lalith grabbed Vidit’s two connected pawns. Vidit tried in vain to halt the onward march of Lalith’s pawns on a- and b- files in a rook ending. Lalith played correctly to force the win in 97 moves.

In another rook and pawn ending arising out of a Scotch game, top seeded Nigel Short of England used his isolated passer pawn to inflict a defeat on former national champion P. Konguvel of PSPB.

GM Henrik Danielsen of Island lost the game to Sergey Fedorchuk of Russia, as he did not complete 40 moves in the stipulated time control. India No.2 Pentala Harikrishna and Kolkata GM SS Gnaguly distributed the prizes. (FIDE)

Top final standings

Final Rank
Rank Name Rtg FED Pts TB1 TB2
1 GM Barbosa Oliver 2564 PHI 7½ 56½ 51
2 GM Lalith Babu M.R. 2585 IND 7½ 55 50
3 GM Kunte Abhijit 2439 IND 7 61 55½
4 GM Vidit Santosh Gujrathi 2602 IND 7 58½ 53
5 GM Rahman Ziaur 2486 BAN 7 56½ 51½
6 GM Adhiban B. 2608 IND 7 55 50
7 GM Deepan Chakkravarthy J. 2496 IND 6½ 57½ 53
8 GM Landa Konstantin 2645 RUS 6½ 56½ 51½
9 GM Sethuraman S.P. 2578 IND 6½ 53½ 49
10 GM Sengupta Deep 2529 IND 6½ 52 47½

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India's Highest Prize-Money Delhi Chess Open begins Jan 9

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

Hello everyone,

The 12th Delhi Chess Open begins Thursday with Martyn Kravtsiv of Ukraine as top seed. Fresh from his victory at the Al-Ain Chess Classic, Grandmaster and former world junior chess champion Abhijeet Gupta will be the highest-rated player among the huge Indian lot of players at the event. 

One of the strongest chess open tournaments in the annals of Indian chess tournament history will see a total of 24 Grandmasters in the premier ‘A’ group that has 130 entries thus far. There are 24 International Masters in the fray apart from one Woman Grandmaster making the titled players' 50 in all.

The event will see an unprecedented more than 1,000 entries in the festival that surpasses the previous record of 899 participants in the previous edition of this annual event. The event is also the highest prize money tournament of India offering Rs. 23 lakh and Laptops to winners. There will be ten rounds in all.

Grandmaster Martyn Kravtsiv of Ukraine starts as the rating favourite in the premier group while Grandmaster Levan Pantsulaia of Georgia is the second seed. Gupta, who recently won the Al Ain Chess Classic, ahead of many fancied names, will be seeded third. (www.indianchessnews.com)

Top-20 players in the A Category rated above 20001 GM Kravtsiv Martyn 2628 UKR
2 GM Pantsulaia Levan 2614 GEO
3 GM Gupta Abhijeet 2606 IND
4 GM Barbosa Oliver 2579 PHI
5 GM Lalith Babu M.R. 2579 IND
6 GM Evdokimov Alexander A. 2558 RUS
7 GM Gagunashvili Merab 2547 GEO
8 GM Vaibhav Suri 2547 IND
9 GM Gomez John Paul 2541 PHI
10 GM Sanikidze Tornike 2541 GEO
11 GM Sengupta Deep 2538 IND
12 GM Venkatesh M.R. 2524 IND
13 GM Dzhumaev Marat 2521 UZB
14 GM Neverov Valeriy 2519 UKR
15 GM Arun Prasad S. 2504 IND
16 GM Grover Sahaj 2478 IND
17 GM Deepan Chakkravarthy J. 2475 IND
18 IM Karthikeyan Murali 2472 IND
19 GM Gasanov Eldar 2469 UKR
20 GM Murshed Niaz 2464 BAN

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Indonesia Chess Open 2013 Round 4: GM Ivan Ivanisevic Leads

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

Hello everyone,

It has taken four rounds of play to have a sole leader at the Indonesia Chess Open 2013. GM Ivan Ivanisevic, who was leading with GM Avetik Grigoryan until the previous round, has taken sole lead after four rounds with a perfect score. On 3.5/4 are GMs Aleksey Dreev, Surya Shekhar Ganguly and Hoang Thanh Trang. Dreev outplayed local hope GM Susanto Megaranto in the endgame after achieving a better pawn structure while Ganguly was simply too strong for GM John Paul Gomez. But the main attention was on the Hoang encounter with GM Oliver Barbosa, where the Filipino sacrificed his Queen for a number of active minor pieces and a dangerous looking attack along open files against an exposed King. Hoang, however, played with great accuracy, combining attack and defense with her Queen and brought home the point.

You can replay the Hoang Thanh Trang - Oliver Barbosa game with Chess King.
In other significant GM encounters, top seeded Alexander Moiseeko managed to win the exchange, but Sandro Marco generated resources to draw, while the former student Eshan Ghaem Maghami held the draw against his old teacher Nigel Short. Vaibhav Suri was happy to use the white pieces to also draw the higher rated Eduardo Iturrizaga, while it was the same result in the match-ups between Igarza Renier Vazquez and Gundavaa Bayarsaikhan, and Jan Ehvest and Antoaneta Stefanova.

Vadmim Malakhattko came close to winning against Abhijeet Gupta, but the Indian GM was able to liquidate into a drawn Rook ending.

With Megaranto losing, the best Indonesian player is again Anjas Novitas who recovered from his first loss against a GM in the third round to beat WGM Elisabeth Paehtz.

Official website

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Asian Chess Champion 2013 is Chinese GM Li Chao

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

Hi everyone, 

The 2013 Asian Continental Championship (Open) was held on 18-26th May in Manila, Philippines. The tournament was organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines and Eugene Torre Chess Foundation, Inc. 75 players from 14 federations, including 26 Grandmasters and 18 IMs, took part in the tournament, according to a Chessdom news update.

Chinese Grandmaster Li Chao emerged Asian Continental Champion after concluding the tournament with 7,0/9 points. Half a point behind, there were five players sharing the 2nd place. Local chess fans are delighted that Philippines’ Grandmasters Oliver Barbosa and Mark Paragua grabbed the silver and bronze medals respectively. Further, Le Quang Liem (Vietnam, 4th) and Adhiban Baskaran (India, 5th) also qualified for the 2013 World Chess Cup. Sasikiran Krishnan had the worst tie-break and remained outside of the qualification.

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Indonesia Chess Open 2012 Inaugurated at Glittering Ceremony

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hi everyone,

Asia's first Grandmaster Eugene Torre with wife (extreme left) and a performer at the opening ceremony of the Indonesia Chess Open 2012 on Thursday. 

The latest chess tournament news via Fide is that the Indonesia Open 2012 has begun with a grand opening ceremony. The 2nd Indonesian Open Chess Championship 2012 was officially declared opened by Deputy Sports Minister Prof. Djoko Pekik Irianto in a colourful ceremony featuring Indonesia dance from different parts of the vast country. Attending the opening was Adi Suyuso who represented Major General Toni Suratman, President of the powerful Indonesia National Sports Committee (KONI) and Grandmaster Utut Adianto, Deputy Preisdent of PERCASI (All Indonesia Chess Federation), various officials, as well as most of the 27 Grandmasters, the top 50 Indonesian players, and some 40 other internationals who had arrived in time.

The 2nd Indonesian Open Chess Championship is going to have its first round on Friday, with Grandmasters such as Ivan Sokolov, representing the Netherlands, Li Chao and Yu Yangyi from China, Vlad Tkachiev representing France, the other Vietnam superstar Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son, Jaan Ehlvest now playing for the USA, India’s Surya Sekhar Ganguly and the large delegation from the Philippines of Oliver Barbosa, Rogelio Antonio, John Paul Gomez, Mark Paragua, Darwin Laylo, Eugene Torre and Richard Bitoon and others.

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Filipino Chess Icon Eugene Torre Upbeat About National Chess Team

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012

Hi everyone,

Filipino chess icon GM Eugene Torre has said that while the Filipinos finished 21st in the recent Chess Olympiad in Istanbul, they proved that they can slug it out with the world’s elite, beating top teams Bulgaria and England. The Filipinos even moved to joint second in a field of 143 after a draw with No. 4 Hungary and victories over the Bulgarians and the Englishmen. But defeats to China and Romania in the closing rounds spoiled their remarkable run, according to an article in The Philippine Star.
“It was an eye-opener that we could slug it out with the elite teams,” said Torre, Asia’s first grandmaster who at 60 remains as sharp as ever.

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Philippines' GM Oliver Barbosa Wins Odisha GM Chess Open

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012

Hi everyone,

Barbosa from Philippines has won the fourth Odisha International GM Open Chess Tournament in Bhubaneswar, India. In photo above, National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) Chairman/President Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr. congratulates Barbosa in an earlier victory also in India. In photo are, from left, GM Mark Paragua, NCFP Executive Director GM Jayson Gonzales, Barbosa, Pichay, GM John Paul Gomez and NCFP Treasurer Red Dumuc. Barbosa defeated overnight leader Russian GM Nikolai Chadaev in the eighth round and drew his last two games to win the title. The Taytay, Rizal native won about US$3,740. Barbosa and two other Philippine GMs are schedule to participate in the “5th Mayor’s Cup International Open Chess Tournament Mumbai” on June 7 to 15 in Mumbai, India.

Final Standings:
8.5 points-GM Oliver Barbosa (Philippines)
8.0 points-GM Nikolai Chadaev (Russia), IM Sahaj Grover (India), GM Hoang Thanh Trang (Hungrary), GM Evgeniy Podolchenko (Belarus), IM Suri Vaibhav (India)
7.5 points-IM Vishnu Prassana V (India), GM Andrei Deviatkin (Russia), IM Das Debashis (India), GM John Paul Gomez (Philippines), GM Aleksej Aleksandrov (Belarus), GM Deepan Chakkaravarthy J (India), IM Ramnath Bhuvanesh R (India)
7.0 points-GM Mark Paragua (Philippines), GM Deep Sengupta (India), Himail Gusain (India), IM Venkatesh MR (India), FM Gosh Diptayan (India), FM Rajesh VAV (India), GM Laxman RR (India), IM Priyadharshan K (India), IM Anita Gara (Hungrary), WGM Meenakshi Subbaraman (India), Arun Karthik R (India).

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Oliver Barbosa wins La Union Chess

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012

Hi everyone,

Despite losing his final match to Grandmaster (GM) Mark Paragua, GM Oliver Barbosa still took home the title based on points in the 7th La Union Open Chess Championships on Thursday in San Fernando City, La Union. Barbosa pocketed the P50,000 top prize that goes with the title.

 

It was Barbosa’s second major title this year since his overall victory in the 10th Parsvnath International Grandmasters Chess Tournament last January.

“Oliver is playing on a different level right now,” said GM Eugene Torre. “With him and Wesley (So), the future of Philippine chess looks bright.”

GM Darwin Laylo and IM Oliver Dimakiling, who both fell to Barbosa in the earlier rounds, shared second to third places with 8.5 points. They each took home P20,000.

Laylo defeated Causo after 37 moves of Slav while Dimakiling downed GM Richard Bitoon after 42 moves of Smith Morra.

Senador edged FM Paulo Bersamina to finish solo fourth with 8.0 points and get P10,000.

Meanwhile, Fernando Bustamante finished with 5.5 points to nab special awards. Bustamante emerged as the top senior and top non-master, netting P2,000 for each honor.

He also earned P5,000 for being the top La Union player, beating Michael Manago and Fernando Tadina for the award. The two got P3,000 and P2,000, respectively

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GM Oliver Barbosa wins Delhi Chess Open 2012

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012

Hi everyone,

Sixth seed Filipino GM Oliver Barbosa beat Indian IM Shyam Nikhil to win the 10th Parsvnath International Delhi Chess Open on Monday. Barbosa finished the event with 9.5 points to take the Rs 2 lakh. The second spot was tied for by GM Gomez John Paul of Philippines and Indian IM Lalith Babu. The former won on tiebreak.

Access the official website here.

Round 10 video

Top Final Standings :-
(1) GM Oliver Barbosa of Philippines
(2) GM Gomez John Paul of Philippines
(3) IM Lalith Babu M R of India
(4) GM Mark Paragua of Philippines
(5) Ma Qun of China
(6) GM Andrei Deviatkin of Russia
(7) Zeng Chongsheng of China
(8) IM Vaibhav Suri of India
(9) IM Shyam Nikil of India
(10) GM Abhijit Kunte of India
Best Women : GM Hoang Thanh Trang of Hungary

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Delhi Chess Open R6: Barbosa, Gomez lead

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012

Hi everyone,

Filipino Grandmasters Oliver Barbosa and Gomez John Paul defeated Grandmaster Marat Dzhumaev of Uzbekistan and Indian International Master Lalith Babu M R respectively in the sixth round to emerge as the joint leaders in the 10th Parsvnath International Open Grandmasters Chess Tournament. 

Playing with black pieces in Caro-Kan defence game, Barbosa gained an exchange of rook for his minor piece in the thirty first move and facing the inevitable, Dzhumaev give up the match after six more moves.

While playing white side of Maroczy Bind variation of Sicilian defence, Lalith Babu failed to convert a favourable middle game position and lost the initiative towards the end to hand over full point to his Filipino rival. Here is a video from the event.



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Chennai chess open begins

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012

Hi everyone,

The chess news from the 4th Chennai International Chess Open is that top seed Aleksei Aleksandrov is among the 16 players leading after three rounds. Along with Aleksandrov, the other overseas GMs are Hoang Thanh Trang of Hungary, Mikhailo Oleksienko of Ukraine, John Paul Gomez of Philippines, Marat Dhzumaev of Uzbekistan and untitled Chinese Yu Ruiyuan. There are 34 players with 2.5 points in second place. 

Barbosa versus Ghosh

In the third round games, 13-year-old Indian FM Diptayan Ghosh of Kolkata shocked Philippino GM Oliver Barbosa. Ghosh put forth a nice knight sacrifice to win. 

A total of 297 players including 16 Grandmasters, 31 International Masters, 2 WGM’s, and 3 WIM’s from 15 countries viz., Belarus, Ukraine, Iceland, Bangladesh, China, Uzbekistan, Hungary, Brazil, Nepal, Botswana, Sri Lanka, Switzerland and the Philippines are participating in this tournament. This eleven round Swiss round runs till 12th January, 2012.

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