GM ANTONIO STAYS ON COURSE IN SYDNEY CHESS

PINOY IM NOLTE BOOST HIS GM NORM IN KOLKOTA CHESS

BY: MARLON BERNARDINO




FILIPINO International Master Rolando Nolte (2412) boost his grandmaster norm bid after settling another huge draw against Indian GM RB Ramesh (2473) in the fifth round of 3rd Kolkata Open International Grandmasters Chess Tournament yesterday in Gorky Sadan in Kolkata, India.



This is the third straight draw of the enlisted member of Philippine Airforce against tough grandmaster opponents. Nolte had earlier draw against GM Das Neelotpal (2486) of India in the third round and GM Vladimir Dobrov (2501) of Russia in the fourth round.



The undefeated Quezon City based Nolte raise his total 3.5 points on account of 2 wins, 3 draws in five outings. He shares 12th to 27th placers with sixth round opponent GM Smbat Lputian (2616) of Armenia who lost to GM Ziaur Rahman (2492) of Bangladesh.



GM Rahman, meanwhile improve his 4.5 points and tie for 1st to 3rd place with GM Victor Laznicka (2595) of Czech Republic and GM Nguyen Anh Dung (2525) of Vietnam, both agreed draw in their games.



National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) president Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr. is hoping that Nolte can hold the momentum to obtain his grandmaster norm.



"I hope na mahawakan ni (Rolando) Nolte ang kanyang momentum at nawa'y makakuha niya ang GM norm," said Pichay.



IM Oliver Barbosa (2410) and IM Chito Garma, on the other hand had a different route yesterday.



Barbosa split the point with IM Sudhakar Babu of India while Garma bowed to FM Sahaj Grover of India.



The Taytay, Rizal resident Barbosa now has 3.0 points and joint 28th to 50th placers together with sixth round Kutwal Shashikant of India. The Tondo, Manila native Garma remains at 2.5 points and was dropped into a tie for 51st to 64th placers with sixth round opponent Nikil Shyam of India. MARLON BERNARDINO.



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FILIPINO GM Rogelio "Joey" Antonio Jr. (2525) trounced Velimir Kresovic of Germany to stay in course in the seventh round of 2008 Sydney International Open Chess Championships yesterday at the Parramatta Town Hall in New South Wales in Sydney, Australia.

The no.8 seed Antonio scored 5.5 points and climbed into a share of 3rd to 9th placers along with GM Varuzhan Akobian of the United States, GM Merab Gagunashvili of Georgia, GM Murray Chandler and Gawain Jones of England, IM Gary Lane of Australia and eight round opponent IM Zhao Zong-Yuan of Australia.

The No.3 seed GM Akobian (2599) halted the Cinderella's run of Fil-Australia based Raul Samar yesterday that results the latter's stuck at 4.5 points. Samar fell to 15th to 30th placers with compatriot NM Julius Joseph de Ramos and WNM Sherily Cua and eight round opponent IM Stephen Solomon of Australia.

De Ramos settled for a truce with FM Igor Goldenberg of Australia as well Cua halve the point with IM Mas Hafizulhelmi of Malaysia.

Toseed GM Zhang Zhong (2617) of Singapore beat GM Vadim Malakhatko (2600) of Belarus to score 6.0 points and join GM Surya Shekhar Ganguly (2579) of India in the leadership board. GM Gangul also drew with GM Gawain.

In other matches saw, WNM Catherine Perena bowed to FM Robert Smith of New Zealand, Ramon Manon-Og Jr. split the point with Eugene Schon of Australia, NM Homer Cunanan defeated countryman Leo Daylo Jr.,WNM Kimberly Jane Cunanan ripped FM James Morris of Australia. Fil-Aussie Amiel Rosario also won his match. However, three Filipino-Australia based Levi Descallar, Edsil Dilla and Lorenzo Escalante were not fortunate yesterday losing their respective matches.

In the Challengers section, Australia based Pinoy Leonardo Tenorio, who hails from Marikina City split the point with Sebastian Jurd of Australia to raise his total 4.0 points and was tied at 4th to 6th places.

Contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO