Pinoy IM Barbosa bags 17th US chess title

MANILA, Philippines – International Master Oliver Barbosa of the Philippines bagged his 17th title in the United States chess circuit by topping the 2nd Annual New York International Chess Championships at the Marshall Chess Club in New York. Finishing with five wins, three draws and a single defeat in nine rounds, the pride of Taytay, Rizal accumulated 6.5 points to tie Grandmasters Georgi Kacheisvili, Zbyneil Hracek, Alexander Stripunsky and IM Samuel Shankland but won the title based on superior tiebreak. Another Filipino, former Asian Junior Champion IM Renato Naranja, finished tied for 33rd to 41st spots in the 55-player tournament after gaining 3.5 points. Barbosa will next compete in the 37th Annual World Open Chess Championship on July 1 to 5 at the Sheraton Philadelphia City Center Hotel in Philadelphia. Prior to this, Barbosa, University of the Philippines’ (UP) former Board 1 player, won the “June St. John’s Masters" last June 16 and the “Get Ready for June 25th Tonight Chess Championships" last June 18, both held in New York. Barbosa won 14 other tournaments in the United States the last three months. – Perry Legaspi, GMANews.TV