ROLLY MARTINEZ, NOW GM

FILIPINO ROLLY MARTINEZ GETS HIS 1ST GM NORM

FILIPINO INTERNATIONAL MASTER Rolly Martinez agreed a quick eight moves draw over IM Fabio Bruno of Italy in their Sicilian-Alapin skirmish to earn his 1st GM norm in the 8th and penultimate round of the ongoing 27th International Chess Festival in Bratto, Italy on Thursday.

The former Sapang Palay, Bulacan resident and Milan, Italy based Martinez bring his point total up to 6.5 points and accumulated a TPR (Total Performance Rating) of 2667 going to the last round on Friday. The over-night solo leader Martinez will handle the disadvantageous black pieces in his last match against GM Vladimir Burmakin of Russia for the championship's trophy.

Even if he loses in the last round, the norm is secured due to the high average rating of his opponents. He lost to GM Vladimir Epishin of Russia in the 3rd round but defeated GM Michele Godena of Israel and top seed Russian/Dutch GM Sergei Tiviakov (2648) of the Netherlands. He also beat the strong German IM Michael Hoffman. Martinez is currently at No.14 in the RP-Fide rating list with an Elo Fide rating of 2428. In Genova, Italy last year, he scored 7 points/9 which should also be enough for a norm, but he only got to play 2 GMs so it was not counted.

Another Filipino entry IM Roland Salvador also settled for a truce with IM Flavio Guido of Italy. This dimmed his chance to nail his third and final GM norm/ results. Salvador, who hails from San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan raised his total to 5.0 points in the company of GM Gyula Sax of Hungrary, GM Pawel Jaracz of Poland, GM Igor Efimov of Monaco, last round opponent IM Matha Fierro Baquero of Ecuador and 14 others. Defending champion GM Erald Dervishi of Albania led the huge group of 4.5 pointers.

Individual Standing after round 8: (120 players/ 9 round Swiss-system)
6.5 points---IM Rolly Martinez (PHILIPPINES)

6.0 points---GM Vladimir Burmakin (Russia), GM Vladimir Epishin (Russia),
GM Miso Cebalo (Croatia), IM Fabio Bruno (Italy)

5.5 points---GM Sergei Tiviakov (Netherlands), GM Giorgi Bagaturov (Georgia), GM Oleg Romanishin (Ukraine), GM Liuben Spassov (Bulgaria) , GM Alberto David (Luxembourg), GM Michele Godena (Italy), GM Igor Khenkin (Netherlands), GM Csaba Horvath (Hungray),GM Csaba Horvath (Hungray), IM Llambi Qendro (Albania), IM Jacob Aagaard (Scotland), IM Adam Hunt (England), IM Sebastian Siebrecht (Germany), FM Yakup Erturan (Turkey), FM Alessio De Santis (Italy)
5.0 points---IM Roland Salvador (PHILIPPINES), GM Gyula Sax (Hungrary), GM Pawel Jaracz (Poland),GM Igor Efimov (Monaco)

(Report from MARLON BERNARDINO).