So, Barbosa open Asian Zonal bid

MANILA, Philippines - The Asian Zonal 3.3 Chess Championship unwraps today with GMs Wesley So seeking a return stint in the World Cup and Oliver Barbosa shooting for the crown at the Tagaytay International Convention Center in Tagaytay City.

So is taking a break from his studies in the US to spearhead the local challenge in the top-level tournament which stakes two slots in this year’s World Chess Cup 2013 set Aug. 10-Sept. 5 in Tromso, Norway.

The 19-year-old So reached the fourth round of the 2009 World Cup where he beat former world championship contenders Vassily Ivanchuk and Gata Kamsky before losing to Vladimir Malakhov.

Barbosa, meanwhile, clinched a World Cup slot after finishing fifth in last year’s Asian Chess Championship in Vietnam and will go for the crown in the week-long tournament hosted by Tagaytay Mayor Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino and the city council.

Also in the fold is Indonesian GM Susanto Megaranto, winner of the 2011 Asian Zone 3.3 edition also held in Tagaytay, together with former World Cup veteran GM Mark Paragua, winner of the just concluded PSC Cup International Chess Championship,

Paragua placed second to Megaranto in 2011.

Vietnamese GMs Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son, Dao Thien Hai and Cao Sang and Mongolian GM Tsegmed Batchuluun are also expected to contend in the event which also drew top local GMs John Paul Gomez, Joey Antonio, Darwin Laylo, Richard Bitoon and Eugene Torre.

Tolentino, also the president of Asian Zone 3.3, said he’s hopeful of a good finish for the Filipinos, especially with So heading the local challenge as the event’s top seed.

The top finisher in the women’s field, to be headed by Mongolian GM Monguntuul Batkhuyag, will also qualify for this year’s Women’s World Championship.