RP chess IM Nolte gains 1st GM norm in India

MANILA, Philippines - International master Rolando Nolte outduelled grandmaster Al-Rakid Abdullah of Bangladesh in the ninth and penultimate round of the 2008 Kolkata Open GM chess tournament in Kolkata, India, to earn his first GM norm. Nolte, one of several Quezon City-based chessers making waves in the international chess scene, defeated Abdulah in only 37 moves of a Ruy Lopez Opening, according to a statement released on Wednesday by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP). Nolte thus hiked his total to 6.5 points, only a point behind GMs Krishnan Sasikiran of India and Victor Laznicka of the Czech Republic. Overall, Nolte has four wins and five draws in the tough, 10-round tournament being held in this former capital city of British India. The Filipino IM is tied at fourth to 10th places with six other players, including his 10th and final round opponent, GM Chanda Sandipan (ELO 2593) of India. He needs two more GM norms to become the Philippines' fourth GM under the term of NCFP president Prospero "Butch" Pichay. The first three players who earned their GM titles under Pichay were Darwin Laylo, Wesley So, and Jayson Gonzales. "I'm very happy with Nolte's achievement," said Pichay, who supported the trip of the Filipinos to the Indian tournament. "This is really a good year for Phlippine chess. Jayson became a GM in Tarakan, Indonesia, early this year, Mark (Paragua) topped Group B of the same tournament and Joey (Antonio) did well in Sydney, Australia." Another Filipino campaigner, IM Oliver Barbosa (ELO 2410), held GM Smbat Lputian (ELO 2616) of Armenia to a hard-fought draw in 59 moves of a Slav Defense to climb into a tie for 20th to 34th places with 5.5 points. Barbosa's final-round rival is GM Das Neelotpal (ELO 2486) of India. Not as fortunate was IM Chito Garma (ELO 2383), who bowed to Aditya Udeshi (ELO 2331) of India to remain with 4.5 points. Sasikiran, the highest-rated player with an ELO of 2677, defeated Sandipan in 31 moves of a Sicilian Defense (Rossolimo Variation), while Laznicka whipped GM Koneru Humpy of India in 40 moves of a Catalan Opening. IM Prasad Arun (ELO 2423) of India toppled GM Vladimir Dobrov (ELO 2501) of Russia after 53 moves of a Queen's Gambit Accepted to move into solo third place with seven points. Standings after nine rounds 7.5 points K.Sasikiran (India), V. Laznicka (Czech Republic) 7 points P. Arun (India) 6.5 points R. Nolte (RP), H. Koneru (India), A. Adly (Egypt), C. Sandipan (India), T. Bakre (India), Z. Rahman (Bangladesh), S. Safin (Uzbekistan) 6 points E. Ghaem (Iran), V. Dobrov (Russia), A. David (Luxembourg), J. Ashwin (India), N.A. Dung (Vietnam), R. Sartapshi (India), R. Ramesh (India), G. Prakash (India), K. Sundararanjan (India)

- GMANews.TV