Antonio, Nolte share top honors in Malaysia chess

MANILA, Philippines - Grandmaster Joey Antonio and International Master Rolando Nolte drew their respective games in the final round to share top honors in the ninth IGB Dato’ Arthur Tan Chess Festival in Kuala Lumpur recently.

Antonio split the point with GM Eldar Gasanov of Ukraine while Nolte drew with Ronald Dableo.

Antonio and Nolte both tallied nine points points in 11 round tournament but the former took the championship trophy with higher tiebreak points.

GM Richard Bitoon routed compatriot NM Ali Branzuela to notch 8.5 points for joint third with Gasanov, Dableo, IM Awam Wahono and FM Anjas Novita of Indonesia.

The Filipinos campaign in the Malaysian chess circuit was supported by National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) chairman/president Butch Pichay, secretary-general Abraham Tolentino Jr. and executive director GM Jayson Gonzales.