Thursday, April 18, 2013

Antonio grabs lead in Bangkok Chess



Individual Standings after Round 6:
5.5 points---GM Rogelio Antonio Jr. (Philippines)
5.0 points---IM Roy Saptarshi (India), GM Jan Gustaffson (Germany), GM Mark Paragua (Philippines),GM Hansen Sune Berg (Denmark), GM Zhao Zong-Yuan (Australia), IM Wang Chen (China), GM Ralf Akesson (Sweden), GM Darwin Laylo (Philippines), GM Gerhard Schebler (Germany)

GRANDMASTER (GM) Rogelio "Joey" Antonio Jr. defeated GM Levente Vajda of Romania in 52 moves of Modern defense to grabs the solo leadership board in the sixth round on Friday in the Bangkok Chess Club 2013 at the Dusit Thani Pattaya in Pattaya, Thailand.

Antonio, member of the multi-titlist Philippine Army Chess Team raised his total 5.5 points, half point ahead over compatriots GMs Mark Paragua and Darwin Laylo, GMs Jan Gustaffson  and GM Gerhard Schebler of Germany, GM Hansen Sune Berg of Denmark, GM Zhao Zong-Yuan of Australia,GM Ralf Akesson of Sweden, IM Roy Saptarshi of India and IM Wang Chen of China who totes five points each.

In other results, Paragua split the point with Akesson after 10 moves of King's Indian defense; Laylo beat WGM Irine Kharisma Sukandar of Indonesia after 67 moves of Queen's Indian defense; Gustaffson outplayed IM Manuel Bijaoui of France after 30 moves og King's Indian defense; Schebler nipped NM Nelson Villanueva after 82 moves of Reti Opening; Sune Berg dealt IM Thejkumar M. S. of India after 57 moves of Queen's Pawn game; Zhao halved the point with Saptarshi after 59 moves of Slav defense and Wang edged Jimson Bitoon after 27 moves of Sicilian defense.

In the seventh round, Sune Berg  will meet Antonio on board one, Wang opposite Gustafsson on board two, Paragua goes up against Schebler on board three, Zhao versus Akesson  on board four and Saptarshi will face Laylo on board five.

"We hope Joey (Antonio). Darwin (Laylo) & Mark (Paragua) will end up as champions and other Filipino players to finish strongly and be at the top ten." said Allan Diez, a strong chess supporter from Mindanao.

Defending champion and tournament top seed GM Nigel Short of England, with an ELO rating of 2697 crushed GM Yrjo A.Rantanen of Finland to lead the huge group of 4.5 pointers.

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

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