Salvador tops Italy chess, gains last GM norm

MANILA, Philippines - Roland Salvador became the country’s 13th grandmaster as he clinched his third and final GM norm after finishing tied for first in the 11th International Chess Tournament Fermo-Porto San Giorgio at the Astoria Hotel in Italy over the weekend.

Salvador, whose rating is expected to reach 2500 in the quarterly Fide rankings, scored seven points out of the possible nine to share honors with GMs Vladimir Epishin of Russia, Peter Prohaszka of Hungary, Viesturs Meijers of Latvia, Alberto David of Luxemburg and Manuel Leon Hoyos of Mexico.

Salvador thus obtained his third GM result and will join the country’s elite GM roster that includes Wesley So, Eugene Torre, the late Rosendo Balinas, Joey Antonio, Bong Villamayor, Nelson Mariano II, Joseph Sanchez, Darwin Laylo, Jayson Gonzales, Mark Paragua, John Paul Gomez and Rogelio Barcenilla Jr.

Salvador and Barcenilla are expected to earn their GM status during the Fide Congress in this year’s Olympiad.

Salvador outwitted local bets Jon Arana Garate, Valerio Raineri, Rubern Bernadi and GM David in succession while drawing with IM Branic Certic of Serbia in the fifth round.

The Italy-based Salvador then downed another local entry IM Paolo Vezzosi in the sixth before settling for draws with Epishin, Prohaszka and Meijers in the last three rounds.

The former Rizal Technological U standout obtained his first GM norm in 2004 also in Bratto, Italy then gained his second GM result in 2006.

Meanwhile, Paragua beat former Olympiad veteran American GM John Fedorowicz in the fifth and final round to end up tied for first with GM Alexander Shabalov and Alex Barnett of the US in the 42nd Atlantic Open Chess Championship in Washington DC.

Paragua also finished joint first with GM Alexander Lenderman in the 10th Grand Prix Open with 3.5 points in New York.