Barbosa shocks Kazakh GM

Barbosa shocks Kazakh GM in Moscow Open
by Ed Andaya
Sunday, 06 February 2011 19:38

Standings after eight rounds: (Russians unless stated)

7 points — N. Kabanov, W. Zhou (China), I. Kovalenko (Ukraine), F. Amonatov (Tajikistan), V. Belous.

6.5 — O. Barbosa (Philippines), Y. Yu (China), M. Turov, D. Khismatullin, Y. Lou (China), M. Matlakov, A. Demchenko, S. Voitsekhovsky, I. Bukakshiv, S. Tiviakov (Netherlands), S. ,Volkov, A. Bezgodov, R. Jumabayev (Kazakhstan), E. Sveshnikov (Latvia), D. Kryakvin

MOSCOW, Russia — Former Southeast Asian Games silver medalist IM Oliver Barbosa is keeping the Philippine flag flying high in Moscow.

Barbosa authored the worthiest of several upset wins when he pulled the rug from under GM Pavel Kotsur of Kazakhstan in a keenly-watched eight-round encounter to keep within striking distance in the Moscow Open chess championships at the Russia State Social University here Saturday.

The 24-year-old Barbosa, who is hoping to achieve his GM title this year, made it three wins in a row when he toppled the higher-rated and more-experienced Kotsur (ELO 2559) in 42 moves of the Caro-Kann Defense and raised his record to 6.5 points on six wins, one draw and one loss.

Barbosa, seeded only 52nd with an ELO of 2461, kept his composure with the disadvantageous black pieces and held his ground even after the 18 th-seeded Kotsur initiated complications by giving up his knight to gain attacking chances.

When the end came, Barbosa had two rooks and two pawns against Kotsur’s bishop, rook and two pawns. The Filipino, however, is set to deliver the kill by forcing an exchange of the rooks and advancing his connected pawns when the Kazakh resigned.

Overall, Barbosa is tied for sixth to 20th places with 6.5 points, only half a point behind GM Nikolai Kabanov of Russia, GM Zhou Weiqi of China, IM Igor Kovalenko of Ukraine, GM Farrukh Amonatov of Tajikistan and untitled Vladimir Belous of Russia.

Barbosa will now go for a higher finish — or even a tie for the top spot — when he takes on No. 11 seed against GM Sergey Volkov of Russia.

Volkov, one of 11 players here with an ELO of 2600 plus rating, defeated compatriot Dmitry Obolenskikh in an all-Russian encounter.

Here is the full article.