Barbosa tops KL tiff, earns 3rd GM norm

MANILA, Philippines - Oliver Barbosa and Richard Bitoon finished 1-2 in the DYTM Raja Dr. Nazrin Shah Invitational Masters over the weekend to clinch their third grandmaster norms and become the newest Filipino GMs.

Barbosa drew his final round match with former Asian Junior champion GM Nguyen Anh Dung of Vietnam to finish with seven points and capture the overall crown in the round robin event.

Bitoon, on the other hand, beat Uzbek GM Tahir Vakhidov to share runner-up honors with his victim at 6.5 points and likewise obtained his third and final GM result.

The duo, however, will only receive their FIDE confirmation in the next FIDE Congress before joining the growing list of Filipino GMs which include Eugene Torre, Joey Antonio, Bong Villamayor, Nelson Mariano II, Mark Paragua, Wesley So, Darwin Laylo, Jayson Gonzales, John Paul Gomez, Joseph Sanchez, Roland Salvador, Banjo Barcenilla, Julio Catalino Sadorra and the late Rosendo Balinas Jr.

Meanwhile, Reggie Olay finished joint second in the Swiss system competition with 6.5 points to become the country’s newest IM.