Barbosa edges Indian IM, cops HK chess title via tiebreak

MANILA, Philippines - Grandmaster Oliver Barbosa downed Indian International Master Subbaraman Vijayalakshmi to rule the Hong Kong International Open Chess Championships 2015 Monday night.

The third seeded Barbosa actually finished tied with second seed Chinese GM Zeng Chongsheng with 7.5 points after nine rounds but the Olympiad veteran took the crown with a superior tiebreak score, 48.5-45.5.

It was a big victory for Barbosa, out to make up for his early struggle that saw his FIDE rating drop to 2501.

Chongsheng trounced untitled Filipino Nelson Villanueva to tie Barbosa.

Another Filipino bet, GM Darwin Laylo, held top seed GM Gao Rui of China to a draw to end up joint fourth with Chinese FIDE Master Yu Kaifeng, who won over Hong Kong’s Chan Chak Man, with 6.5 points apiece.

Gao finished at solo third with seven points.

Despite his loss, Villanueva still made it to the top 10 with six points in a tie with Filipina Mikee Charlene Suede, who overpowered Hong Kong’s Chong Chor Yuen.