Barbosa eyes another title

Thursday, January 26, 2012

MANILA—A dozen Filipino woodpushers, led by reigning 10th Parsvnath International Grandmasters Chess Tournament Champion Super Grandmaster Oliver Barbosa, will see action in the 2nd HDBank Cup International Open on March 1 to 8 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

“I hope to do well in the 2nd HDBank Cup event in Vietnam,” said Barbosa, who became the third Super Grandmaster in Philippine history after improving his Elo rating points to 2627.

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A chess player who reaches the 2600 Elo rating barrier will automatically be known as Super Grandmaster, a title given to all elite GMs.

Barbosa, a former University of the Philippines (UP) mainstay, will be playing with GM John Paul Gomez and GM Mark Paragua. Gomez and Paragua also finished at second and fourth places, respectively, in the India tournament and arrived in the country last Wednesday.

National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) chairman Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr., executive director GM Jayson Gonzales and treasurer Red Dumuk congratulated GMs Barbosa, Gomez and Paragua for their top four finish and met them at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

“We’ll keep sending them abroad to gain exposure and improve their Elo ratings,” said Pichay, who is supporting the players’ overseas campaign as part of the Philippine Team preparation for this year’s 38th World Chess Olympiad in Istanbul.

Aside from the three GMs, the other Pinoys who will join the tournament in Vietnam are IMs Rolando Nolte, Ronald Bancod and Emmanuel Senador, FM Christopher Castellano and US master Albert Rivera. (PR)