SENADOR EARNS GM NORM; DABLEO CLOSE TO GM TITLE

Individual Standings after round 8:

6.5 points
IM Emmanuel Senador (Philippines)

6 points
GM Darwin Laylo (Philippines), IM Ronald Dableo (Philippines), GM Negi Parimarjan (India), GM Ghaem Maghami Ehsan (Iran), GM Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son (Vietnam), Yu Yangyi (China), GM Li Chao (China), GM Iuldachev Saidali (Uzbekistan), GM Susanto Megaranto (Indonesia)

5.5 points
GM Schebler Gerhard (Germany), Xiu Deshun (China), GM Nguyen Anh Dung (Vietnam), WIM Muminova Nafisa (Uzbekistan), WIM Zhang Xiaowen (China), IM Richard Bitoon (Philippines)

FILIPINO International Master Emmanuel Senador turned back Chinese Yang Yi in the eight and penultimate round of the 2009 Malaysian Open (Dato’ Arthur Tan Malaysian Open 2009) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to earn his first GM norm.

Senador, one of several Quezon City-based chessers, who hails from Iloilo City making waves in the international chess scene, defeated erstwhile tournament leader Yu using the disadvantageous black pieces in a Sicilian Defense encounter to grabs the solo leadership board.

Senador thus hiked his total to 6.5 points in the tough nine (9) round Swiss-System tournament, only a point ahead with Yu and GM Li Chao of China, GM Negi Parimarjan of India, GM Ghaem Maghami Ehsan of Iran, GM Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son of Vietnam, compatriot GM Darwin Laylo and IM Ronald Dableo of the Philippines, GM Iuldachev Saidali of Uzbekistan and GM Susanto Megaranto of Indonesia.

With the win, Senador will face the young GM Negi on round 9.

IM Dableo, on the other hand needs a win against GM Megaranto to nail his third and final norm for the GM-title.

Dableo, who is best to remember winning the prestigious 2003 Vietnam Asian Zonal Chess Championships outduelled Bangladesh top GM Ziaur Rahman in their eight round matches using the white pieces.

Muti-titled head coach NM Homer Cunanan of San Sebastian College-Recoletos had something to say to his former student/ player, “Sabi ko nga kay Ronald (Dableo) kunin na niya ang kanyang last GM norm. Sa tuwing nagkikita kasi kami ni Darwin (Laylo) ay lagi namin pinagkukuwentuhan si Ronald (Dableo). In behalf as family ng mga Cunanan at sa Baste (SSC-R), ay good luck sa last game ni Ronald at nawa’y makuha na niya na nga,” said Cunanan, in an exclusive interview of this writer yesterday.

Dableo and Laylo, both 1-2 punch of SSC-R in the 90’s of the NCAA chess competition.

An upsets wins over Indon GM Megaranto, Dableo, the head coach of University of Santo Tomas varsity chess team will become the country’s 13th grandmaster and will 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.

The Marikina City native Laylo, who is fresh from a back to back local chess title (Victory Mall Open and Bernabe Cup) split the point with 2005 Manila Southeast Asian Games five gold medal winner Viet GM Nguyen, Ngoc Truong Son handling the white pieces.

Back-to-back loses by Cagayan de Oro City hopeful NM Rustum Tolentino forfeited any hope for him to earn a norm. After scoring 4 points on the first six rounds (3 GM’s on the cast of opponents), he suffered back to back loses to GM Megaranto and Dragecevic Domagoj, nullfying his chance to nail a norm.

Other interesting results, FM Leonardo Carlo, untitled players Rhobel Legaspi and Ian Cris Udani from the Philippine scored an impressive wins in their respective rivals to tote 5.0 points each.

Carlos beat Dirk Jordan, Legaspi humbled countryman IM Oliver Dimakiling and Udani shocked Indon IM Sadikin Irwanto.

Another Filipino entry Deniel Causo wasn’t lucky losing to Indon IM Tirto to remains at 4.0 points along with Tolentino.

BY: MARLON BERNARDINO