GMs Barbosa, Antonio, Paragua, Gomez, Laylo, Bitoon to see action in Vietnam International Chess Open
By Marlon Bernardino
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 18 Mar 2013
MANILA -- Grandmasters (GMs) Oliver Barbosa, Rogelio "Joey" Antonio Jr., Mark Paragua, John Paul Gomez, Darwin Laylo and Richard Bitoon will be seeing action in the 3rd HD Bank Cup International Open Chess Tournament 2013 scheduled on March 19 to 24 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
The Taytay, Rizal native Barbosa earned a spot in the prestigious World Chess Cup after finishing fifth overall in the 11th Asian Continental Individual Chess Championships in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
?We?ll be up against strong and more seasoned players in this tournament and I hope my luck continues there. Right now, I?m in deep preparation, doing more practice games with my fellow GMs,? said Barbosa, who also topped the Invitational Masters tournament early this year. ?It?s also a good opportunity to hone my skills as part of my build up for the World Chess Cup,? added Barbosa.
"We hope to do well in this event," said the 12-time national open champion Antonio who hails from Calapan, Oriental Mindoro.
The Bulacan pride Paragua, on the other hand, also expressed readiness to compete against some of the world?s best GMs in the event which offers $30,000 cash prize. The champion getting the lion share of $10,000.
?It?s one of the most challenging tournaments for us because all of the best GMs are expected to be there. We?ll just play one game at a time. Every round is important,? Paragua said.
Joining them are IM Oliver Dimakiling of Davao City, FM David Elorta of Manila, FM Haridas Pascua of Mangatarem, Pangasinan, FM Paulo Bersamina of Pasay City, NM Stewart Manaog of Quezon City, NM Nelson Mendoza of Bacolod City and journeyman Jimson Bitoon of Medellin, Cebu.
GM Le Quang Liem of Vietnam (2709) and GM Ferenc Berkes of Hungrary (ELO 2702), are the top two seed in the said tournament, the only players with an ELO 2700 plus, equivalent of so called Hydra GM.
The Filipino woodpushers Vietnam campaign are supported by National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) Chairman/President Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr., Secretary-General Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino Jr., Executive Director GM Jayson Gonzales, Grass Roots Development Program Head and Bayan Muna Party-List Rep. Neri Javier Colmenares, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman Ricardo Garcia and Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Jose "Peping" Cojuangco Jr.-Marlon Bernardino-
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