ANOTHER VICTORY FOR THE FILIPINO WOODPUSHERS; BARBOSA CLAIMS HIS 16TH US CHESS TITLE IN A SPAN OF THREE MONTHS

COUNT the June St.John’s Masters and Get Ready For June 25th Tonight Chess Championships to the growing list crown of Filipino International Master (IM) Oliver Barbosa has collected.

The pride of Taytay, Rizal, playing under the banner of Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr., president of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) and supported by New York Immigration lawyer Geronimo “Gerry” Albano scored 3.5 points in four outings to finished in tie for place with Estonian GM Jaan Ehlvest and Israeli GM Leonid Yudasin dubbed as June St.John’s Masters last June 16 was held at the Marshall Chess Club in New York, New York. Barbosa’s big wins against 2008 Las Vegas North American Open Champion Georgian GM Giorgi Kacheishvili in the third and penultimate round then split the point with Ehlvest in the final round enroute the coveted chess plum.

“Well done Oliver (Barbosa), Great Victory, Keep it up, we are very proud of your achievement,” said Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr., president of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP), also the guest speaker in the upcoming 1st Palmdale Chess Tournament on Sunday, June 28, 2009 which will be held at the Ramon Magsaysay Highschool in Cubao, Campus.

Two days later, Barbosa, a former Philippine Junior Champion,a protegee of GM Buenaventura “Bong” Villamayor and NM Rudy “Master” Ibanez trounced American IM Raymond Kaufman to finished perfect 4.0 points and tops the “Get Ready For June 25th Tonight Chess Championships” last June 18 also held in the heart of Big Apple.

The former University of the Philippines (UP) top woodpushers now has 16 US chess titles which he won in a span of three months, from April to June according to his spokesman Albert Rivera, the reigning RP Artists Titlist that includes Original 4 rated Games Tonight, New York, New York (April 9), Marshall CC Saturday Game 60, Marshall Chess Club, New York (April 11), Marshall CC Sunday Game 60, Marshall Chess Club, New York (April 12), 10 Grand Prix Points Tonight , New York, New York (April 16), Original 4 rated Games Tonight, New York, New York (April 23), 10th Bowyer Memorial GP , Atlantic Beach, New York (April 25), 10 Points Older Tonight, New York, New York (May 7), PCC 05109 Swiss in Forest Hills, New York (May 10), Original 4 rated Games Tonight, New York, New York (May 21), NY May Open, New York, New York (May 24), Polgar Chess May 2009 G90, Forest Hills, New York (May 26), Original 4 rated Games Tonight, New York, New York (May 28), Original 4 rated Games Tonight, New York, New York (June 11) and 6th Annual George Washington Open (June 14) in Sterling, Virginia.

BY: NATIONAL MASTER MARLON BERNARDINO