Popov keeps slim Int’l chess lead

RUSSIAN Grandmaster Ivan Popov remained at the helm, but five players, including three Filipinos, stayed close behind in the PSC-Puregold International Chess Challenge at Celebrity Sports Plaza in Quezon City.

The top-seeded Popov (Elo 2622) drew with Georgian GM Levan Pantsulaia after 30 moves of a Reti Opening, raising his total to 5.0 points after six rounds and keeping his slim edge over Pantsulaia, Armenian GM Avetik Grigoryan, Filipino GMs John Paul Gomez and Julio Catalino Sadorra, and International Master Jan Emmanuel Garcia, who  have identical 4.5 points.

The 19-year-old Garcia, a Management Information Systems student of Ateneo de Manila University, trounced Indian IM Narayanan Suriduth Lyna after 34 moves of a Queen’s Gambit Declined to match Grigoryan’s conquest of GM Richard Bitoon in 46 moves of an English Opening Caro-Kann.

Garcia and the fourth-seeded Grigoryan caught up with Pantsulaia, winner of the recent Philippine International Chess Championship, and Gomez and Sadorra, who also drew their match after 30 moves of a Nimzo-Indian Defense (Rubinstein variation).

Also in contention with 4.0 points each were Filipino GM Oliver Barbosa, Russian GM Anton Demchenko, Georgian GM Merab Gahunashvili and Filipino IM Haridas Pascua.

Demchenko subdued International Master Oliver Dimakiling, Gagunashvili downed IM Barlo Nadera, while Pascua held Barbosa to a draw in 35 moves of a Trompovsky Attack.

The seventh round of the tournament sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission and Puregold was being played last night with Popov staking his lead against Grigoryan and Pantsulaia taking on Gomez.

Other feaured matches pitted Sadorra against Garcia, Gomez against Pantsulaia and Barbosa against Demchenko.

Handling black, Popov agreed to split the point with Pantsulaia as he boosted his drive toward the $5,000 top purse in the tournament being supported by Asia United Bank, Burlington, Celebrity Sports Plaza, Microtel and Harold’s Hotel.

Russian GM Mikhail Mozharov forged a draw with IM Rolando Nolte and were lodged at 3.5 points with nine others.  Roy Luarca