Russian GM rules Subic chess with 1 round to go

Russian GM Boris Savchenko. Photo by Roy Luarca

SUBIC—Russian Grandmaster Boris Savchenko won his last two matches to rule the PSC/Puregold International Chess Challenge even with one round left at Subic Peninsular Hotel.

The eight-seeded Savchenco disposed of Chinese GM Lu Shanglei and countryman GM Pavel Smirnov in the eighth round late Friday and ninth round yesterday afternoon to move beyond reach of his pursuers and assure himself of the $5,000 top purse.

Savchenco raised his total to 8.5 points, two up on closest pursuer GM Vitaly Sivuk of Ukraine, who also hurdled compatriot GM Alexander Zubov and Indian GM Chakkravarthy Deepan in succession.

Boasting an outstanding record of eight wins against a lone draw, Savchenco, who downed Smirnov after 51 moves of a King’s Indian Classical Main Line, can afford to drop his 10th and final round match against top seed  Indian GM Abhijeet Gupta and still bring the crown  home.

GM Darwin Laylo sustained his fine showing here by drawing with Deepan and Lu, respectively, and is on track of a top three finish in the crack 44-man field that includes 18 GMs.

Laylo, a four-time chess Olympian and two-time national champion, and Lu are right behind Sivuk, the Philippine International Chess Championship winner last week, with 6.0 points each.

The 34-year-old Laylo is tangling with Sivuk in the 10th round at presstime with the Ukrainian handling white.

Bunched at 5.5 points were Russian GMs Anton Demchenko, Vladimir Belous and Anton Shomoev; Deepan and Gupta; Vietnamese GM Nguyen Duc Hoa, and Chinese International Master Lin Chen.

Filipino youngsters  IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia and National Master Jerad Docena are at 5.0 points with six others, hoping to crack the top 10 of the event organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines.

GM Rogelio Antonio Jr. , IMs Oliver Dimakiling and Rolando Nolte and NM Roel Abelgas.