PINOY GM BARBOSA LANDS IN THE TOP TEN OF THE PRESTIGIOUS WORLD OPEN
By Marlon Bernardino
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 30 Jul 2017
The 45th Annual World Open held from June 29-July 4, 2017 at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, 1201 Market St., Philadelphia
GM Oliver Barbosa landed in the top ten of the prestigious World Open, considered as one of the top chess events in the United States with a large prize fund in a Swiss tournament. Barbosa tied for seventh place, making it the highest place so far achieved by a Filipino chess player in the Open. He scored 6.5 points and had a chance to be the overall champion when he got paired against the eventual winner, Tigran Petrosian, namesake of the former world champion.
Before the last round, Barbosa played and won against fellow Filipino GM Julio Sadorra. Barbosa said it was a tough game between the two, and they finished the game at 4 p.m. The long game worked against Barbosa since the last game was to start at 4:30 p.m. It was only then that he had a lunch break and didn?t have time to prepare for his opponent. ?I had a wrong choice of the opening and entered his favorite line,? Barbosa said. Petrosian told him that he had time to prepare and was able to scout his lines.
Barbosa nevertheless said that he was proud in landing the best place among Filipinos in such a big tournament, and was surprised to find himself contending for the World Open title even without much preparation for the tournament. He said he didn?t feel any pressure because he didn?t feel compelled to think about the prize money in the tournament unlike when he was playing in the Philippines. Barbosa together with GM Mark Paragua has a job in New York training students. He said, ?Kahit self-supporting po ako dito, important pa in po na clear ang mind habang naglalaro.?
Sadorra finished with 6.0 points and was tied for 16th place. IM Angelo Young won $5000 by placing first in the category prize for those rated 2200-2299. IM Rolando Nolte tied for second and won $400 in the category prized for those rated 2300-2499.
In the Under 2200 section, Filipino Ramon Manon-og Jr. of New York, originally from Kidapawan City, North Cotabato tied with Martin Hansen of Florida and James Lee Richardson of Virginia to win $7000 each. Manon-og, 32. has always played in the World Open but this was the first time he won a big prize. He attributes his win to the combination of studying hard and listening to the advice of strong players. He said he learned from fellow New Yorkers GM Barbosa and GM Paragua.
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