FM Arca bounces back, defeats IM Laohawirapap of Thailand in 6th round
By Marlon Bernardino
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 19 Apr 2025
FIDE Master Christian Gian Carlo Arca bounced back and won again by beating International Master Prin Laohawirapap of Thailand in the 6th round of the 22nd Bangkok Chess Club Open 2025 Friday, April 18, 2025 at the Royal Orchid Sheraton Riverside Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand.
The 16-year-old Panabo City, Davao del Norte chess prodigy prevailed with the black pieces in 56 moves of Caro-Kan Defense.
"It was a very tough match," said Arca.
With the hard earned win, Arca raised his total 5.0 points, the same output of Grandmaster Nigel Short of England, Grandmaster Babu MR Lalith of India, International Master Paulo Bersamina, Grandmaster Jozsef Horvath of Hungary, Grandmaster Stephen Gordon of England and FIDE Master Ern Jie Anderson Ang of Malaysia.
Short checkmated FIDE Master Alexander Chernyavsky of Russia in 30 moves of Nimzo Indian defense, Bersamina halved the point with Lalit in 19 moves of four knights game, Horvath subdued FIDE Master Lik Zang Lye of Malaysia in 44 moves of Double Fianchetto Opening, Gordon crushed FIDE Master Kim Yew Chan of Malaysia in 27 moves of English Opening, and Ang nipped International Master Dang Hoang Son of Vietnam in 63 moves of Double Fianchetto Opening.
Grandmaster Evgeny Romanov of North Macedonia defeated International Master James Morris of England in 60 moves of Nimzo Indian defense to score 5.5 points in six outings and create a 2-way tie for first place with Grandmaster Surya Shekhar Ganguly of India, who brought down International Master Arif Abdul Hafiz of Indonesia in 22 moves of Vienna Opening.
International Master Michael Concio Jr., who is fresh from winning the Bangkok Chess Club Blitz competition is still in contention after settling a draw with top seed Super Grandmaster Jan Gustafsson of Germany in 63 moves of English Opening.
The trio, Arca, Bersamina and Concio are eyeing for Grandmaster norms with three rounds to go.
In the Challenger section, Tran Nguyen Dang Koa of Vietnam beat Remark Bartolome to score his six straight win in as many rounds and grab the solo leadership board.
John Paul De Guzman defeated Wai Yan Lin Zwe of Myanmar to score 5.5 points for solo second place.
John Lance Valencia bested compatriot Woman National Master Arvie Lozano to create a 5-way tor for third place with 5.0 points that includes Wong Side Ting of Malaysia, Khalid Shafwan Azzamy of Indonesia, Klaus Lucas Yeo of Singapore and Nikolay Gutsulyak of Russia.
Bartolome, meanwhile remains at 4.5 points, the same output of Kamaluddin Yusof of Malaysia, Filipino and United States chess master Almario Marlon Quiroz Bernardino Jr. and Jarunpol Sajjapornthep of Thailand.-Marlon Bernardino-
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