GM Sanchez wins French chess tournament

MANILA, Philippines – Joseph Sanchez, the countries 11th Grandmaster, and compatriot International Master Rolando Salvador posted a 1-2 finish in the recently concluded 11th Open International de Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines in France. Sanchez, GM Mark Paragua’s former mentor who now lives in the south of France, was leading the pack until the ninth and last round when he was held to a draw by GM Namig Guliyev of Azerbaijan to finish with 7.5 points. Salvador, now based in Milan, Italy, caught up with Sanchez for the top spot by defeating Legrand Stephane of France in the final round. But Sanchez won the title because of a better tiebreak in the tournament. Salvador was congratulated by the Philippine embassy in Paris through Philippine Consul Maria Angela Ponce. On Sunday, Salvador and Virgilio Vuelban posted a 1-2 finish for the Philippines in the recent Circolo Bertellini Salsomaggiore International Open Chess in Italy. – Perry Legaspi, GMANews.TV