China’s Yue wins RP Open Int’l Chess championship

Final standings: 7 points - W. Yue ( China), Z. Zong (China), N. Hua ( China) 6.5 - W. Hao ( China), Z. Jun (China) 6 - E. Ghaem (Iran ), S. Megaranto (Indonesia), L. Shilong ( China) 5.5 - L. Chao (China), E. Torre (RP), U. Adianto (Indonesia), V. Akobian (US), O. Dimakiling (RP), J. Sadorra (RP), W. So (RP), M. Paragua (RP) , Z. Ziyang (China), R. Antonio (RP), M. Maga (RP), A. Makinano (RP), R. Bancod (RP) 5 - E. Fernandez (RP), E. Bagamasbad (RP), B. Nadera (RP), R. Llavanes (RP) 4.5 - F. Donguines (RP), H. Nouri (RP), E. Senador (RP), J. Verdun (RP), L. Babu (India), H. Taufik (Malaysia), M. Diez (RP)

Asian super power China dominated the 2007 RP Open international chess championship as expected with top seed GM Wang Yue winning the title via higher tiebreak score over compatriots GM Zhang Zhong and Ni Hua even as Asia's first GM Eugene Torre emerged as the highest-placed Filipino player at the end of the ninth and final round at the El Centro of the Legenda Hotel. Wang, according to a press statement Saturday, lived up to his billing as the pre-tournament favorite, drawing with fellow Chinese GM Zhao Jun with the disadvantageous black pieces to finish with seven points on five wins and four draws in the prestigious tournament organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP). Ni Hua outclassed GM-candidate Oliver Dimakiling in 30 moves of the Sicilian while Zhang Zhong crushed newly-minted IM Julio Catalino Sadorra in 38 moves of another Sicilian to forge a three-way tie for first place with Wang with seven points Wang, however, clinched the title by virtue of higher tiebreak score over Zhang and Ni Hua. The three pocketed US$5,000 (approximately P240,000) each. SBMA administrator Armand C. Arreza awarded the trophies and cash prizes to the winners on behalf of NCFP president and Surigao del Sur Rep. Prospero "Butch" Pichay. He was assisted by NCFP officials Edmundo Legaspi, Red Dumuk and Willie Abalos and FIDE representative Casto "Toti" Abundo. Two other Chinese campaigners--GMs Wang Hao and Zhao Jun--finished in a tie for fourth to fifth places with 6.5 points. Wang outduelled GM Varuzhan Akobian of the United States in 82 moves of the Old Indian. The two went home US$2,500 richer. Sharing sixth to eighth places with six points were GMs Ehsan Maghami Ghaem of Iran, Susanto Meganto of Indonesia and Li Shilong of China. Another Chinese, unrated Li Chao, finished in solo ninth with 5.5 points. Li drew his final-round match against GM Utu Adianto of Indonesia. The fifth-seeded Ghaem overcame a tough stand by Torre, turning a drawish endgame battle into a decisive 54-move win in a Trompovsky, Megaranto outlasted another Filipino, NM Ernesto Fernandez while Li demolished NM Efren Bagamasbad in other centerstage matches. The loss relegated the 55-year-old Torre to 10th place overall with 5.5 points. Joining Li and Torre with similar score of 5.5 points were Adianto, Akobian, Dimakiling, Sadorra, IM Wesley So, GM Mark Paragua, Zhang Ziyang of China, GM Rogelio Antonio Jr., NM Mirabeau Maga, NM Anthony Makinano and IM Ronald Bancod. All of them went home with US$746. So and Antonio, who played together for the Mayor Abraham Tolentino-backed Tagaytay City team which placed runner-up in the Asian Cities Chess Team Championship in Tehran, Iran last month, settled for a draw in 30 moves of the Sicilian. Paragua outplayed NM Manny Senador, Zhang downed IM Halay Taufik of Indonesia, Maga whipped Rhobel Legaspi, Makinano upset FM Fernie Donguines and Bancod dumped Hamed Nouri. Fernandez, Bagamasbad and Nadera finished 1-2-3 in the Top Filipino category and went home with consolation prizes of US$250, US$150 and US$100, respectively. Lalith Babu of India earned the Top Junior award over Boris Diez and Jan Emmanuel Garcia, while WFM Irine Sukandar of Indonesia copped the Top Female plum over Cristy Lamiel Bernales and Kimberly Jane Cunanan. - GMANews.TV