SINGAPORE OPEN ROUND 7

SINGAPORE MASTERS: SADORRA SUFFERED FIRST LOSS IN RD 7

Individual Standings after round 7:

6.0 points--- GM Sandipan Chanda (IND)

5.5 points--- GM Zhang Zhong (SIN), GM Zurab Azmaiparashvili (GEO)

5.0 points---IM Julio Catalino Sadorra (RP), GM Dao Thien Hai (VIE), GM Wu Shaobin (SIN), IM R R Laxman (IND)

4.5 points---IM Enrique Paciencia (RP), GM Susanto Megaranto (INA), GM Nguyen Anh Dung (VIE), IM Salor Sitanggang (INA), IM Girinath PDS (INA)

4.0 points---IM Oliver Dimakiling (RP), WGM Gu Xiaobing (CHN), Wan Yunguo (CHN), Wang Li (CHN), Jia Haoxiang (CHN), Lin Chen (CHN)

3.5 points---GM Mark Paragua (RP), IM Jayson Gonzales (RP), IM Mas Hafizulhelmi (MAS), WIM Irine Kharisma Sukandar (INA), IM Ashot Nadanian (ARM), Shen Siyuan (CHN)



NEWLY INSTALLED Filipino International Master Julio Catalino Sadorra (2414) suffered his first lost at the hands of top seed GM Zhang Zhong (2634) of Singapore in the seventh round yesterday of the Singapore Masters International Open Tournament 2007 in Singapore.

With this result, Sadorra remained at 5.0 points on account of four wins, two draws and a loss and dropped to a 2524 rating performance.

The former Cavite resident and currently based in Singapore earlier drew with second seed GM Zurab Azmaiparashvili (2606) of Georgia late Wednesday that lift his rating performance of 2594.

He will face GM Susanto Megaranto (2569) of Indonesia in the eight round late Thursday and a win will move Sadorra closer to his second GM norm. Sadorra already faced three required GM opponents according to the FIDE handbook rules. Sadorra obtains his first of three GM norm in the recent Prospero Pichay International Open Chess Championships in Duty Free Mall in Paranaque City. He needs to score 7.0 points to secure a GM norm.

Meanwhile, GM Sandipan nipped countryman IM Girinath PDS of India and GM Azmaiparashvili, respectively to grab the solo lead with 6.0 points, a half point ahead with GMs Zhang Zhong and Azmaiparashvili each with 5.5 points.

Another Singapore based IM Enrique Paciencia scored 1.5 points in two outings to climb into a share of 8th to 12th placers in the group of 4.5 points headed by GM Megaranto, IM Salor Sitanggang of Indonesia, GM Nguyen Anh Dung of Vietnam and IM Girinath.

Paciencia, a native of Tacloban, Leyte split the point with lone Filipino GM Mark Paragua in the sixth then beat Wan Yunguo of China in the seventh round.

Paragua who holds an ELO rating of 2415, bowed to IM Sitanggang who only holds an Elo rating of 2410, in the seventh round.

Meanwhile, IM Oliver Dimakiling who beat WGM Li Ruofan of China in the sixth round yielded to GM Dao in the seventh to remain with 4.0 points. IM Jayson Gonzales on the other hand who dealt NM Roland Andador in the sixth halved the point with IM Mas Hafizulhelmi of Malaysia in the seventh.

Paragua, Dimakiling and Gonzales tallying identical 3.5 points apiece while Andador was stuck at 2.0 points.

Report from MARLON BERNARDINO