PINOYS LOSE IN OPENING OF AEROFLOT CHESS

MOSCOW CHESS: DOUBLE BLACK EYE FOR RP CHESSERS DUE TO FATIGUE

A lowly FIDE Master but dangerous player from Armenia shocked Filipino International Master John Paul Gomez at the start of the Aeroflot Open 2008 International Chess Festival in Moscow late Thursday.

Gomez, former two-time Philippine Junior champion, who is rated 2469, 100 ELO rating points higher bowed to Samvel Ter-Sahakyan who totes ELO of 2369.

It was a double black eye for the Philippines when compatriot International Master Julio Catalino Sadorra (2423) also lost to Russian IM Konstantin Maslak (2510).

National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) president Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr. is hoping that the two Filipino campaigners will bounce back in the next round.

"Pagod sa biyahe sina JP (Gomez) at Ino (Sadorra) kaya natalo sila sa 1st round, pero kumpiyansa ako na makakabawi sila sa next round tutal nagsisimula pa lamang ang laban at malayo pa," Pichay said yesterday, who funded the Filipinos' participation.

Gomez and Sadorra, both dropped their opening matches using the disadvantageous black pieces, aiming to obtain their second Grandmaster results in the A2 division confined to players with ELO ratings of less than 2550 but higher than 2399.

In the second round late Friday, Gomez takes on IM Andrei Purtov of Russia (2403) while Sadorra opposite IM Abdullah Hassan of United Arab Emirate (2328).

Meanwhile, top seed Russian GM Semen Dvoirys (2549) trounced Armenian IM Davit Petrosian (2459) to open his bid in a high note. However, No.2 pick Alexei Iljushin (2549) forced a fighting draw with fellow Russian GM Sergei Beshukov (2458).

The A2 division champion gets $12,000, the runner-up $8,000, the third placer $5,000, the fourth placer $2,500 and the fifth placer $1,500.

In the A1 division, tournament favorites Armenian Super-GM Vladimir Akopian (2700) also held into a draw with Azerbaijan GM Rauf Mamedov (2583) while second seed Ukrainian Super-GM Andrei Volokitin (2674) was yielded to Armenian GM Artashes Minasian (2578), one of the upset so far.

Contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO