DABLEO SHARES TOP HONORS; RP’S 13TH GRANDMASTER

Final Standings:

(DATMO OPEN 2009)

7.0 points

GM Negi Parimarjan (India), IM Ronald Dableo (Philippines)

6.5 points

GM Ghaem Maghami Ehsan (Iran), IM Emmanuel Senador (Philippines), GM Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son (Vietnam), GM Darwin Laylo (Philippines), GM Schebler Gerhard (Germany), Yu Yangyi (China), GM Iuldachev Saidali (Uzbekistan), Deshun Xiu (China), GM Li Chao (China)

6.0 points
GM Susanto Megaranto (Indonesia), GM Nguyen Anh Dung (Vietnam), FM Mok Tse Meng (Malaysia), Yu Lie (China), IM Richard Bitoon, FM Leonardo Carlos (Philippines), FM Nguyen Duc Hoa (Vietnam), Rhobel Legaspi (Philippines), Hanbin Li (China)

(Ambank Challenge 2009)

7.0 points
Samson Lim Jr., (Philippines), Rodolfo Panopio Jr. (Philippines), Roel Abelgas (Philippines)

6.5 points

Jax Tham (Malaysia), Tan Kok Liang (Malaysia)

6.0 points

Nor Ilhamuddin (Malaysia), Izz Saifuddin (Malaysia), Cheah Cheok Fung (Malaysia), Fadli Zakaria (Malaysia), Ooi Li Tao (Malaysia)

Best Lady - Renitha Narayanan – 5.0 points, Best U-16 - Tan Jun Feng - 5 points
Best U-12 - Tan Li Ting – 5.0 points

FILIPINO International Master (IM) Ronald Dableo beat Indon GM Susanto Megaranto using the disadvantageus black pieces in the ninth and final round to earn his third and final GM norm in the just concluded 2009 Malaysian Open (Dato’ Arthur Tan Malaysian Open 2009) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Friday.

Dableo and Indian GM Parimarjan Negi, both tallied 7.0 points in this tough nine round Swiss-System tournament, however the latter’s (GM Negi) won the championships’ trophy after edging the former (IM Dableo) in a tie break points (49.5 points against 48 points).GM Negi, on the other hand defeated erstwhile tournament leader Filipino IM Emmanuel Senador using the black pieces in the final canto.

Dableo’s first GM norm came after he won the 3.2a Asian zonal qualifying round in Vungtau, Vietnam in 2003 then obtained his second GM result in the PGMA Cup, where he won 6 out of the possible 9 points in 2006.

Dableo, the head coach of University of Santo Tomas varsity chess team needed to increase his 2417 Fide Elo rating points to 2500 mark to become the country’s 13th grandmaster and join the elite GM group composed of Eugene Torre, Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr., Buenaventura “Bong” Villamayor, Nelson Mariano II, Mark Paragua, Wesley So, Darwin Laylo, Jayson Gonzales, John Paul Gomez, Joseph Sanchez, Rogelio Barcenilla and the late Rosendo Balinas Jr.

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SENADOR FALTERS

Senador who earned his first GM norm in the penultimate round, meanwhile was stuck at 6.5 points, and landed into a tie for 3^rd to 11^th placers in the company of GM Ghaem Maghami Ehsan of Iran, GM Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son of Vietnam, countryman GM Darwin Laylo of the Philippines, GM Schebler Gerhard of Germany, Yu Yangyi of China, GM Iuldachev Saidali of Uzbekistan, Deshun Xiu of China and GM Li Chao of China.

In other interesting results, Laylo split the point with Maghami, Li drew with Iuldachev, Yu halved the point with Ngoc Truong Son and Deshun beat WIM Zhang Xiaowen.

IM Richard Bitoon of Medellin, Cebu, FM Leonardo Carlos of Malabon and Rhobel Legaspi of Manila finish in a tie for 12^th 20^th placers who tote 6.0 points each together with GM Megaranto, GM Nguyen Anh Dung of Vietnam, FM Mok Tse Meng of Malaysia, Yu Lie of China, FM Nguyen Duc Hoa of Vietnam and Hanbin Li ofChina.

Ian Cris Udani of Bacolod City toppled Aussie FM Igor Goldenberg to notch 5.5 points and over-all 25^th placers.

“Ronald (Dableo) and Emmanuel (Senador) and company once again brought honor to the country. Their victory serves as an inspiration to the nation particularly to the Filipino youth pawnpushers,” said National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) president Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr., referring to the three players who dominated the Ambank Challenge.

BY: MARLON BERNARDINO