Southeast Asian Games

SEA GAMES: SO BEATS LIEW; JOSE UPSET WGM SUKANDAR; BARBOSA FALTERS
By Marlon Bernardino
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 19 Nov 2011

Manila, Philippines—FILIPINO top player GM Wesley So and reigning two-time national open womens champion WFM Rulp Ylem Jose, both scored their second straight wins, however newly-minted GM Oliver Barbosa failed to continued his winning run in the on-going 26th Southeast Asian Games yesterday in Palembang, Indonesia.

The 18-year-old genius from Bacoor, Cavite defeated IM Jimmy Liew of Malaysia to gain a share of lead with GM Susanto Megaranto of Indonesia, who brought downed GM Cao Sang of Vietnam. Fide Master Kyaw Lin Naing of Myanmar, meantime nipped FM Teerapabpaisit Wisuwat of Thailand for his full point.Lin Naing lost to So in the opening round.

So, the country’s hope for the coveted gold medal will be playing disadvantageous black pieces against Megaranto in the third round of the Men Standard chess competition.

In the Women Standard chess competition, reigning two-time national open champion WFM Rulp Ylem Jose upset WGM Irine Kharisma Sukandar of Indonesia for her second straight wins in as many rounds.
The former Far Eastern University (FEU) top player half point ahead with WIM Nguyen Thi Mai Hung of Vietnam who tote 1.5 points, who dealt Camilia Bt Johari of Malaysia.

National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) Chairman/President Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr. is confident that the Filipino woodpushers will perform well in the said SEA Games meet.

“Confident ako na makaka kuha tayo ng 3 hanggang 4 na gintong medalya sa Southeast Asian Games sa Indonesia. Maganda ang chances nina Wesley at Rulp Ylem sa Men at Womens Standard competition. Saka aabangan din natin sina Wesley, Mark (Paragua), Beverly at Jedara (Docena) sa Men at Womens Blitz competition,” added Pichay, who predicted a 3 to 4 gold medal haul for the country.

“Saka on-going pa ang Men at Womens Rapid chess competition,” he added.

In the Men Rapid chess competition, newly-minted GM Oliver Barbosa beat IM Mas Hafizulhelmi of Malaysia in the fourth but lost to GM Le Quang Liem of Vietnam in the fifth round.

The Taytay, Rizal bet was stuck at 3.5 points in five outings, the same output of FM Rudin Hamdani of Indonesia. Le, who drew with countryman GM Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son of Vietnam in the fourth grabs solo lead with 4.0 points.

Another Filipino entry 12-time national open champion GM Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr. bounced back in contention by settling a draw with Hamdani in the fourth then toppled Nyi Nyi Lwin of Malaysia in the fifth round.

More here.