Delhi Open chess: Gomez, Barbosa keep lead

Filipino Grandmaster Oliver Barbosa drew with Russian GM Andrei Deviatkin in their top board encounter in a marathon 92 moves of a Slav defense to remain on top with compatriot GM John Paul Gomez in the 10th Parsvnath International Open Chess Tournament 2012 Saturday in New Delhi, India.

Gomez split the point with countryman GM Mark Paragua after 26 moves of a London System Opening in Board 2.

Barbosa and Gomez have 7.0 points each, half a point ahead of Paragua, Deviatkin and GM Evgeny Gleizerov of Russia, IMs Das Debashis, Rathnakaran K and Shyam Nikil P of India, who notched 6.5 points each.

Gleizerov drew with GM Abhijit Kunte of India in 19 moves of Bogo-Indian defense; Debashis drew with Rathnakaran after 41 moves of Modern Benoni defense; while Nikil P stunned countryman top seed GM Chanda Sandipan (Elo 2628) after 50 moves of a King’s Indian attack.

Another Filipino entry, GM Richard Bitoon, yielded to untitled Karthikeyan Murali and was mired at 4.5 points.

In the ninth round, Barbosa battles Gleizerov, Gomez meets Nikil P, Rathnakaran K faces Deviatkin and Paragua battles Debashis.