Pinoy Nolte Finishes 3rd in KL Masters 2013; Misses GM Title Norm

by Marlon Bernardino

Final Rankings:

9.0 points---GM Sergei Tiviakov (Netherlands)

7.5 points---GM Thomas Luther (Germany)

7.0 points---IM Rolando Nolte (Philippines)

5.5 points---GM Niaz Murshed (Bangladesh)

5.0 points---IM Ramnath Bhuvanesh R. (India), IM Goh Wei Ming (Singapore)

4.5 points---IM Mas Hafizulhelmi (Malaysia)

4.0 points---WGM Padmini Rout (India), IM Oliver Dimakiling (Philippines)

3.5 points---IM Aleksandar Wohl (Australia)

0.0 (zero) point ---GM Wong Meng Kong (Singapore)

International Master Rolando Nolte of the Philippines defeated IM Aleksandar Wohl of Australia in the final round to finish third in the DYTM Raja Dr Nazrin Shah Invitational KL Masters 2013 at the Swiss Inn Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Saturday.

Nolte tallied 7.0 points on 5 wins, 4 draws and 1 loss in ten outings to pocketed the third prize worth 4,000 Malaysian ringgit. Nolte missed the chance to get his third and final GM norm as he fell short by half point in the 11 round tournament when he had to settle for a draw against Woman Grandmaster Padmini Rout of India in the penultimate round.Nolte needed to win his last two rounds to reach 7.5 points and earn his third and final GM norm. 

"Sa last 2 rounds ay kailangan maipanalo ko ang 2 laro ko po. Tinalo ko sa last round si (IM Aleksandr) Wohl kaso na draw ang laban ko sa penultimate round kay (WGM) Padmini (Rout) na winning pa naman ang posisyon." Nolte informed the National Chess Federation of the Philippines headed by it's chairman/president Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr. and secretary-general Cavite 7th district rep. Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino Jr.

"Kailangan ko kasi makaiskor ng 7.5 points kaso 7.0 points lamang ako," added Nolte, a former University of Manila mainstay.

Top seed GM Sergei Tiviakov of the Netherlands (ELO 2644), who beat Nolte in the 7th round finish 9.0 points and won the title plus champion's purse worth 10,000 Malaysian ringgit.

 GM Thomas Luther of Germany scored 7.5 points and settled runner-up purse worth 6,000 Malaysian ringgit.

Another Filipino entry IM Oliver Dimakiling, who hails from Davao City scored 4.0 points, the same output of Padmini.

The 11 player's event using the single round robin format organized by Polgar Chess Asia for the Kuala Lumpur Chess Association (KLCA) with support from the Malaysian Chess Federation and Malaysian Intellect Development Foundation. Fide Master Peter Long is the tournament director.