INDONESIA OPEN CHESS: BARBOSA DRAWS WITH CAO SANG, GOMEZ, LAYLO, NOLTE FALTERS

by Marlon Bernardino

Manila---Filipino Grandmaster (GM) Oliver Barbosa was held to back-to-back draws in the ongoing 2013 Indonesian Chess Open Championship at the Puri Ratna Ballroom, Grand Sahid Jaya Hotel, Jl. Jenderal Sudirman 86 Jakarta, Indonesia.

His latest draw was against Vietnamese GM Cao Sang  in the seventh round on Tuesday. Both players agreed a fighting draw after 33 moves of Caro-Kann defense, advance variation.

Barbosa improved his output for a total of 4.5 points on 3 wins and 3 draws and a loss. He is currently tied for 10th to 30th placers along with compatriot GM Darwin Laylo, who lost to GM Alexander Moiseenko of Ukraine after 39 moves of Gruenfeld defense. Laylo crushed GM Jaan Ehlvest of the USA in the sixth round.

"Hindi nag risk si Oliver (Barbosa) kasi mahirap ang posisyon at napilitan siyang mag repetition move ng kanyang black bishop sa b4 square to c3 square against sa rook ni Cao Sang sa a3 square to a1 square," said National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) Chairman/President Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr., long-time benefactor of Barbosa.

The NCFP Chairman/President watches the games live through ChessBomb website.

The Taytay, Rizal native Barbosa, earlier draw against countryman International Master Rolando Nolte in the sixth round on Monday.

Nolte, on the other hand was yielded to GM Ehsan Ghaem Maghami of Iran after 77 moves of Sicilian defense in the seventh round.

GM John Paul Gomez also lost to GM Nigel Short of England after 22 moves of French defense.Gomez drew with GM Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son of Vietnam in the sixth round.

Meanwhile, solo leader GM Aleksey Dreev of Russia still leads the field with 6.0 points after halving the point with GM Surya Shekhar Ganguly of India after 30 moves of Slav defense.

At 2nd is GM Sandro Mareco of Argentina with 5.5 points. Mareco beat GM Ivan Ivanisevic of Serbia after 33 moves of Trompovsky Opening.

In other Filipino matches saw, IM Oliver Dimakiling split the point with Ehlvest , IM Emmanuel Senador was beaten by GM Susanto Megaranto of Indonesia, GM Mark Paragua settled for a truce with Pradeep Kumar R A of India, GM Richard Bitoon defeated FM Paulo Bersamina, National Master Emmanuel Emperado was yielded to WGM Batchimeg Tuvshintugs of Mongolia, IM Kim Steven Yap smashed IM Tirto of Indonesia, GM Eugene Torre drew with Surya Wahyudi of Indonesia and IM Ronald Bancod subdued FM Firdaus Maksum of Indonesia.

The Filipino Indonesia chess campaign are supported by National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) Chairman/President Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr., Secretary-General Rep. Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino Jr. and Executive Director GM Jayson Gonzales, Philippine Sports Commission and Philippine Olympic Committee.