Barbosa rules NY chess

MANILA, Philippines - International Master Oliver Barbosa came away with two victories in New York recently, scoring 3.5 points in four games to share top honors with Estonian GM Jaan Ehlvest and Israeli GM Leonid Yudasin in the June St. John’s Masters at the Marshall Chess Club.

Barbosa, the former national junior champion, humbled 2008 Las Vegas North American Open champion GM Giorgi Kacheishvili of Georgia in the third round then split the point with Ehlvest in the final round to capture the crown on a superior tiebreak score.

Two days later, Barbosa trounced American IM Raymond Kaufman to top the Get Ready for June 25th Tonight Chess Championships with four points, also in New York.