27th World Senior Chess Championship 2017 in Acqui Terme, Italy
by Marlon Bernardino
FILIPINO Grandmaster (GM) Rogelio "Joey" Antonio Jr. (Elo 2431) halved the point with Indian International Master (IM) Devaki V Prasad (Elo 2290) in yesterday’s third round to create a tenth-way tie for sixth in the 27th World Senior Chess Championship 2017 (50+ and 65+ Open-men and women) in Acqui Terme, Italy.
The win raised Antonio’s tally to 2.5 points in the 50-years-old category, the same output of Prasad, No.4 GM Klaus Bischoff (2513/Germany), No.8 IM Evgenij Kalegin (2426/Russia), No.11 FM Stephan Buchal (2347/Germany), No.18 FM Pavel Certek (2295/Slovakia), No.24 FM Rolf Bergstrom (2270/Sweden), No. 27 Ibrahim Tofan (2235/Turkey), No.40 IM Aitkazy Baimurzin (2170/Kazakhstan) and No.48 FM Wagner Martins Madeira (2139/Brazil).
Using the disadvantageous black pieces, the third seed Antonio, employ his petline Caro-Kann defense, advance variation ended into a fighting draw in 26 pushes.
Top seed GM Julio Granda Zuniga (2650/Peru) toppled No.12 FM Krishan Jhunjhnuwala (2340/USA) after 49 moves of English Opening to share the lead with clean 3.0 points in the company of
No.3 GM Zurab Sturua (2536/Georgia), No. 5 GM Eric Prie (2482/France) , No.9 GM Giorgi Bagaturov (2399/Georgia) and No.10 IM Alexander Reprintsev (2361/Ukraine).
Sturua trounced No.17 IM Renzo Mantovani (2307/Italy), Prie outplayed No. 21 Peter Larsen (2286/Denmark), Bagaturov subdued No.38 Jonathan Grant (2179/Scotland) and Reprintsev crushed No.50 FM Kasem Vebic (2118/Serbia).
In the 65-years-old and above category, the third seed GM Eugene Torre (2465) failed to continued his winning run after losing his match against No.28 Boris Malisov (2240/Israel) after 51 pushes ofTrompovsky Opening. Torre remains at 2.0 points in three outings.
With the win, Malisov on his part, joined the leadership board with perfect 3.0 points that includes No.2 GM Evgeny Sveshnikov (2480/Russia), No.6 GM Vladimir Okhotnik (2434/France), no.7 GM Vlastimil Jansa (2425/Czech Republic), No.11 GM Davorin Komljenovic (2379/Croatia), No.13 IM Nils-Gustaf Renman (2368/Sweden), No.22 IM Arkady Shevelev (2280/Israel), No.27 FM Boris Gutkin (2250/Israel) and No. 42 Igor Privara (Slovakia).
Tournament top seed GM AnatolyVaisser (2503/France), meantime defeated No.44 FM Hans Singer (2174/Austria) after 62 moves of Queens Gambit Declined to raised his total 2.5 points, good for a share 10th to 23rd place.
Executive chess champion Atty. Cliburn Anthony A. Orbe is very confident that Antonio and Torre will perform well in this 11 Round Swiss-system tournament.
In Saturday's Fourth Round, Antonio will face Reprintsev while Torre goes up against No.34 FM Boris Gruzmann (2218/Germany).
It shall be recalled Torre, Asia’s first GM, topped the 8th Asian Seniors Chess Championship last month in Auckland, New Zealand. He sweep of the 15-man tournament confined to players 65 and over.-Marlon Bernardino-