ONLY the best stood standing after the smoke cleared in the last round of the Philippine Open with top-ranked Chinese grandmaster Wang Yue claiming the victor’s cup as he finished the star studded tourney undefeated with 7 points.
Filipino GM Eugene Torre, FIDE master Julio Sadorra, and IM Oliver Dimakling failed in their separate encounters as the Filipino campaign was crushed in the last and final round.
GM Torre lost his game as he was outclassed by Iranian GM Ehsan Maghami Ghaem; FM Sadorra made a valiant effort but could not break Chinese GM Zhang Zhong; while IM Dimakling struggled in his attempt to defeat Chinese GM Ni Hua.
Only GM Torre made it to the top ten in the final standings. As a consolation to FM Sadorra, he got his IM norm with his eighth round win versus IM Barlo Nadera.
Completing the top ten are GM Zhong – 2nd place, GM Hua – 3rd, GM Wang Hao – 4th; GM Zhao Jun – 5th, Iranian GM Ghaem – 6th; Indonesian GM Suranto Megaranto – 7th, GM Shilong Li- 8th, Li Chao –9th and GM Torre – 10th.
With five Chinese GM in the top five positions, it only shows how China has gone up from the ranks to become a powerhouse chess nation here in Asia.
Although GM Yue was tied with 7 points with GM Zhong and Hua, he got the best tie-break points. GM Yue drew his last round match with GM Zhao Jun.
GM Hao for his part stopped US GM Varuzhan Akobian. GM Megaranto beat Ernesto Fernandez. GM Li trampled Efren Bagamasbad while Chao drew his match with GM Utut Adianto.
The best finish for the Cebuanos came from FM Anthony Makinano who finished the tourney with 5.5 points in 20th place.
Makinano beat FM Fernie Donguines in his last game. Had Makinano made good his first 3 games he could have been in the top ten. IM Nadera fell to 24 spot while IM Richard Bitoon was in 39th place. (JGC)
