UPDATE ON AEROFLOT CHESS OPEN

SADORRA, GOMEZ SETTLED FOR A DRAW IN ROUND-6 OF MOSCOW TILT

FILIPINO International Master Julio Catalino Sadorra (2423) settled for a draw with Russian GM Igor Yagupov (2491) even as compatriot IM John Paul Gomez (2469) split the point with untitled Chinese Ju Wenjun (2360) after the sixth round of Aeroflot Open 2008 International Chess Festival at the Gamma-Delta Hotel in Moscow, Russia late Tuesday.

With the results of the draw, both, Sadorra and Gomez,both in the 37th to 56th placers, raised their total to 3.0 points. They both had a tough situation and needed to sweep all three remaining assignments to clinch their second GM results and norms according to chess benefactor Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr., also the president of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP).

It is the first time that the Philippines is represented in the event, one of the most prestigious in the world. The National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) under Pichay decided to send two of the country's leading players for the experience and to give them a chance to earn a GM norm.

"Mahirap na talaga, prayer na lamang talaga at himala ang kailangan dahil kailangan nilang matalo ang kanilang nalalabing kalaban sa posibleng second GM results," said Pichay, who produce three grandmasters under his term---Darwin Laylo, Wesley So and Jayson Gonzales.

"Pero kung hindi man makuha nila (Gomez at Sadorra) ay ok na din kasi experience din y'ung pagsali nila sa Aeroflot," added Pichay, who is hoping two more grandmasters to produce before end of the year in the likes of Sadorra and Gomez.

In the Wednesday's seventh round, Sadorra will meet Russian GM Aleksandr Rakhmanov (2524), who beat Armenian FM Samvel Sahakyan-Ter (2369) while Gomez will square off with Chinese untitled Siyuan Shen (2339), who held into a draw with Russian GM Sergei Beshukov (2458).

The A2 division, which is lured by 92 woodpushers is open to players with a Fide rating of less than 2550 but higher than 2399. At stake in the category are cash prizes, with the champion getting the lion's share of $12,000, the runner-up $8,000, the third placer $5,000, the fourth placer $2,500 and the fifth placer $1,500.

Meanwhile, Marat Askarov (2521) crushed fellow Russian GM Evgeny Vorobiov (2537) to remain on top with 5.5 points, one point head to the closes rival.

In the A1 premiere section, Alexey Dreev (2633) bounced back in contention by beating compatriot Russian Super-GM Artyom Timofeev (2664) to share on top with Russian Super-GM Ian Nepomniachtchi (2600) and Israeli Super-GM Maxin Rodshtein (2614) with 5.0 points each. The duo (Nepomniachtchi and Rodshtein) ended their game in a draw.

Contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO