Georgian GM rips Barbosa; Gomez shocks top seed

MANILA, Philippines - GM Levan Pantsulaia of Georgia trounced another Filipino GM in Oliver Barbosa to remain on top while GM John Paul Gomez stunned top seed Russian GM Ivan Popov in the fifth round of the Philippine International Chess Challenge at Celebrity Sports Plaza in Quezon City yesterday

Fresh from his romp over Julio Sadorra, the highest ranked local GM in the fold at No. 3, Pantsulaia flashed his endgame brilliance to beat Barbosa after 63 moves of a Reti Opening, raising his total to 4.5 points in the Open division of the tournament organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines and sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission and Puregold.

Gomez, meanwhile, shared the limelight by shocking Popov with a 33-move win of a Slav Defense to move closer to Pantsulaia with four points halfway through the $30,000 tournament backed by Asia United Bank Burlington, Celebrity Sports Plaza, Microtel and Harold’s Hotel.

Joining Gomez in second are Russian GMs Anton Demchenko and Mikhail Mozharov and Georgian GM Merab Gagunashvili.

The second-seeded Demchenko beat Indian IM Narayanan Sunilduth Lyna, Mozharov subdued Fide Master Sander Severino, while Gagunashvili dismantled FM Randy Segarra.

Pantsulaia was playing against Gagunashvili on the top board at presstime with Gomez battling Grigoryan, Demchenko clashing with Mozharov and Popov trying to recover lost grounds against GM Darwin Laylo.

Laylo drew his match with GM Rogelio Antonio Jr. to hike his output to 3.5 points in the company of Armenian GM Avetik Grigoryan, who won over Merben Roque.

Antonio stood at three points with Popov, Barbosa, Segarra, Severino, Antonio, Sunilduth Lyna, GM Julio Catalino Sadorra, GM Richard Bitoon and IM Kim Steven Yap.

The US-based Sadorra trounced David Elorta to rebound from his fourth round loss to Sunilduth Lyna.