Norway Chess: All eyes on So, Barbosa, Paragua in World Cup
By Marlon Bernardino
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 08 Aug 2013
So.
MANILA, Philippines --FILIPINO Grandmasters Wesley So, Oliver Barbosa and Mark Paragua will be under the microscope when they play against their foreign counterparts in the 2013 World Chess Cup which takes place on Aug. 11 in Tromso, Norway.
So, Barbosa and Paragua vowed their best to be included in the second round.
"Gagawin namin ang best para makapasok sa second round ng World Cup. Si Wes (Wesley So) ay llamado pero kami ni Oliver (Oliver Barbosa) ay under dog kung Fide rating ang pag-uusapan," said Paragua who is fresh from conducting a simultaneous chess exhibition last July 27 at the SM City in Marilao, Bulacan with six-year old whiz kid James Henry Calacday salvaged a draw with the former (Paragua).
101th seed Paragua (ELO 2565) goes up against 28th seed GM Dmitry Jakovenko of Russia (ELO 2724) in the first round; 33th seed So (ELO 2710) will face 96th seed GM Alexander Ipatov of Turkey (ELO 2584); and 100th seed Barbosa (ELO 2571) will meet 29th seed GM Le Quang Liem of Vietnam (ELO 2702)
It shall be recalled that Paragua lost to England`s GM Michael Adams 0.5-1.5 in the first round of World Chess Cup in the 2011 Khanty-Mansiysk, Siberia edition while So lost to then top seed Ukrainian GM Sergey Karjakin in the blitz tie-break of the Round 2 of World Chess Cup 2011. Barbosa is first timer in World Chess Cup.
National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) Chairman/President Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr. is very confident that Wesley can make it to the Round of 3 of World Cup.
"Naniniwala ako na kaya ni Wesley maka abot sa Round 3 ng World Cup kung saan inaasahan nating makakalaban niya si GM Levon Aroanian ng Armenia," said the long-time benefactor of Wesley.
"Medyo mahigpitan naman ang laban nina Oliver vs Le Quang Liem at Mark vs Dmitry Jakovenko," added Pichay dubbed as the God Father of Philippine Chess.
If Wesley can go past Ipatov then he will play the winner of the match between No.32 GM Evgeny Tomashevsky of Russia (ELO 2706) and No. 97 Alejandro Ramirez of the United States (ELO 2588).
So's heavyweight opponent in Round 3, if he reaches the round, will be against the top seed GM Levon Aronian of Armenia (2813). Aronian, boyfriend of Fil-Australian WIM Arianne Bo Caoili is expected to beat No. 128 untitled MIkahil Markov of Kyrgyzstan (ELO 2304) and the survivor of No. 64 GM Igor Lysyj of Russia (ELO 2648) and No. 65 GM Andrei Istratescu of France (ELO 2646).-Marlon Bernardino-
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Marlon Bernardino.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Manny Pacquiao Promotions Announces Additional Matchups for Saturday, February 28 Event at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York
Fri, 30 Jan 2026SWERVE TV STRIKES MULTI-YEAR PARTNERSHIP WITH GOLDEN BOY PROMOTIONS TO EXPAND PREMIUM BOXING CONTENT
Fri, 30 Jan 2026Leuenbergers to join IRONMAN® 70.3 Davao
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 30 Jan 2026Open Workout: Xander Zayas and Abass Baraou Prepare For Saturday's Unification Showdown in Puerto Rico
Thu, 29 Jan 2026Cabrera-Zapata Kicks Off All Star Boxing's 2026 Season
Thu, 29 Jan 2026Manny Pacquiao Chess Philippines: Cash prizes, FIDE rating at stakes this Sunday
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 29 Jan 2026IBP Fun Run & Family Day on February 15
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 29 Jan 2026TEOFIMO LOPEZ AND SHAKUR STEVENSON FACE-OFF AT KNICKS GAME AS COUNTDOWN TO ‘THE RING 6’ ON SATURDAY BEGINS
Wed, 28 Jan 2026Davao to sponsor P500K in IRONMAN 70.3
By Lito delos Reyes, Wed, 28 Jan 2026JOSH KELLY SOUNDS WARNING TO WORLD TITLE RIVAL BAKHRAM MURTAZALIEV AS HE TARGETS HISTORIC NORTH EAST HOMECOMING
Wed, 28 Jan 2026Gallegos and Alvarez Shine Bright with Knockout Wins at Fontainebleau Las Vegas
Wed, 28 Jan 2026Pedro Carrasco Remembered in Spain 25 Years After His Passing
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 28 Jan 2026Gensan Outdoor, Gensan Educator support MFPI 5th Mindanao Summit in Mt. Apo
By Lito delos Reyes, Wed, 28 Jan 2026Vitor vs Subkhankulov, Tapales vs Kalsynov in Double IBF Asia Title Fights in Moscow on Feb. 13
By Dong Secuya, Tue, 27 Jan 2026“It’s about owning my own journey” Jeanine Brown retuns for Title Clash March 13 – Thunderdome 53
Tue, 27 Jan 2026