Barbosa sparks 1-2 romp in Delhi chess

MANILA, Philippines - GM Oliver Barbosa outwitted IM Shyam Nikil with the black pieces to capture the 10th Parsvnath International Grandmasters chess crown and lead a 1-2 finish by the Filipino bets in New Delhi, India last Monday.

Barbosa wound up with 9.5 points to emerge the solo champion in the 11-round tournament while GM John Paul Gomez settled for runner-up honors with a final round draw with China’s Ma Qun.

IM Lalith Babu M R of India also ended up with nine points but Gomez took second place overall with a superior quotient.

“We congratulate Barbosa and Gomez for once again proving that Filipino players are capable of competing against the best,” said National Chess Federation of the Philippines chair-president Butch Pichay Jr.

GM Mark Paragua routed GM Evgeny Gleizerov of Russia to finish joint fourth with Ma with 8.5 points.

GM Richard Bitoon failed to hurdle his final match as he bowed to untitled Kulkarni Chinmay of India. He finished with 6.5 points.