FM Arca is inching closer to his 3rd and final IM norm
By Marlon Bernardino
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 20 Apr 2025
Bangkok, Thailand – FIDE Master Christian Gian Carlo Arca split the point with countryman International Master Paulo Bersamina in 41 moves of the King's Indian Defense, creating a six-way tie for fifth place after the seventh round of the 22nd Bangkok Chess Club Open 2025 on Saturday, April 19, 2025, at the Royal Orchid Sheraton Riverside Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand.
The 16-year-old bet from Panabo City, Davao del Norte, Arca, has accumulated 5.5 points, the same score as Grandmaster Surya Shekhar Ganguly of India, Bersamina, International Master James Morris of Australia, International Master Michael Concio Jr., and Arsens Batashevs of Latvia.
The draw brings Arca closer to achieving his third and final International Master (IM) norm.
He earned his first IM norm at the 18th IGB Dato Arthur Tan Malaysian Open Chess Championships 2023 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
His second IM norm was secured after winning the Quang Ninh GM2 chess tournament in Ha Long City, Vietnam, on May 19, 2024.
"I am very happy to potentially get my third and final norm in this tournament (22nd Bangkok Chess Club Open 2025)," said Arca.
"With two rounds to go, I will need one draw to get my third and final IM norm. If I am lucky enough to win my two remaining games, a Grandmaster (GM) norm is also possible," he added.
To become an IM, a player must achieve three norms over at least 27 games and have a FIDE rating of 2400 or higher. The Elo rating system measures the skill level of players in games.
In other results, Ganguly was defeated by Grandmaster Evgeny Romanov of North Macedonia in 38 moves of the French Defense. Romanov grabbed the solo lead with 6.5 points after seven rounds.
Morris bested Tony Zheng of Australia in 38 moves of the King's Indian Attack, Concio crushed Haoxuan Zhang of China in 64 moves of the London System Opening, and Batashevs toppled International Master Azarya Jodi Setyaki of Indonesia in 24 moves of the Centre Game.
Grandmaster Stephen Gordon of England beat Grandmaster Nigel Short of England in 53 moves of the Sicilian Defense to score 6.0 points and climb into a tie for second to fourth place along with Grandmaster Babu M. R. Lalith of India and FIDE Master Ern Jie Anderson Ang of Malaysia.
Lalith defeated Grandmaster Jozsef Horvath of Hungary in 32 moves of the Torre Attack Opening, while Ang subdued International Master Arif Abdul Hafiz of Indonesia in 35 moves of the King's Indian Defense.
Meanwhile, John Paul De Guzman defeated overnight solo leader Tran Nguyen Dang Khoa of Vietnam to seize the solo lead with 6.5 points after seven rounds in the Challenger section. -Marlon Bernardino-
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