Abelgas jumps to share of 4th place in PH chess challenge

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MANILA, Philippines – Underdog Roel Abelgas turned back fellow FIDE Master (FM) Fran Minh Thang of Vietnam on Saturday to jump to a share of fourth place in the PSC-Puregold International Chess Challenge at the Subic Bay Peninsular Hotel.The 36-year-old Abelgas, who is eyeing his third and final norm to clinch an International Master title, leaned on a well-played opening variation to overcome Tran in 47 moves of a Gruenfeld in the seventh round of the competition.The victory came after Abelgas, who coaches several collegiate teams including NCAA's University of Perpetual Help, humbled IM Oliver Dimakiling in the longest match of the tournament – a 126-move marathon in the sixth round the day before.With two rounds left to play, Abelgas improved to 4.5 points, good enough for a share of No. 4 along with five GMs: Mark Paragua of the Philippines, No. 8 Kirill Stupak of Belarus, No. 4 Levan Pantsulaia of Georgia, No. 2 Anton Demchenko of Russia and No. 5 Mikheil Mchedlishvili of Georgia.Demchenko fought top seed GM Wang Hao of China to a 42-move standoff of a Ruy Lopez; Stupak and Pantsulaia then halved the point in 92-moves of a King's Indian duel; and Paragua and Mchedlishvili agreed to a quick 20-move deadlock of a Trompovsky.No. 6 GM Vladislav Kovalev of Belarus bested No. 3 GM Boris Savchenko of Russia in 37 moves of a Ruy Lopez to catch Wang on top with 5.5 points apiece in the tournament.At solo third with five points was No. 7 GM Merab Gagunashvili, who waylaid WGM Lei Tingjei of China in 79 moves of an Old Indian. IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia blasted Hamed Nouri in 27 moves of a Ruy Lopez game to barge into the top 10 with four points.Garcia is currently tied at ninth with Lei, Savchenko and Indian IM Abhimanyu Puranik, who trounced WIM Janelle Mae Frayna in 36 moves of a Larsen Opening.(For more sports coverage, visit the <a href='http://sports.abs-cbn.com/'>ABS-CBN Sports website.</a>)

Demchenko fought top seed GM Wang Hao of China to a 42-move standoff of a Ruy Lopez; Stupak and Pantsulaia then halved the point in 92-moves of a King's Indian duel; and Paragua and Mchedlishvili agreed to a quick 20-move deadlock of a Trompovsky.No. 6 GM Vladislav Kovalev of Belarus bested No. 3 GM Boris Savchenko of Russia in 37 moves of a Ruy Lopez to catch Wang on top with 5.5 points apiece in the tournament.At solo third with five points was No. 7 GM Merab Gagunashvili, who waylaid WGM Lei Tingjei of China in 79 moves of an Old Indian. IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia blasted Hamed Nouri in 27 moves of a Ruy Lopez game to barge into the top 10 with four points.Garcia is currently tied at ninth with Lei, Savchenko and Indian IM Abhimanyu Puranik, who trounced WIM Janelle Mae Frayna in 36 moves of a Larsen Opening.(For more sports coverage, visit the <a href='http://sports.abs-cbn.com/'>ABS-CBN Sports website.</a>)

The victory came after Abelgas, who coaches several collegiate teams including NCAA's University of Perpetual Help, humbled IM Oliver Dimakiling in the longest match of the tournament – a 126-move marathon in the sixth round the day before.With two rounds left to play, Abelgas improved to 4.5 points, good enough for a share of No. 4 along with five GMs: Mark Paragua of the Philippines, No. 8 Kirill Stupak of Belarus, No. 4 Levan Pantsulaia of Georgia, No. 2 Anton Demchenko of Russia and No. 5 Mikheil Mchedlishvili of Georgia.

MANILA, Philippines – Underdog Roel Abelgas turned back fellow FIDE Master (FM) Fran Minh Thang of Vietnam on Saturday to jump to a share of fourth place in the PSC-Puregold International Chess Challenge at the Subic Bay Peninsular Hotel.The 36-year-old Abelgas, who is eyeing his third and final norm to clinch an International Master title, leaned on a well-played opening variation to overcome Tran in 47 moves of a Gruenfeld in the seventh round of the competition.

Underdog Roel Abelgas turned back fellow FIDE Master (FM) Fran Minh Thang of Vietnam on Saturday to jump to a share of fourth place in the PSC-Puregold International Chess Challenge at the Subic Bay Peninsular Hotel.

Underdog Roel Abelgas turned back fellow FIDE Master (FM) Fran Minh Thang of Vietnam on Saturday to jump to a share of fourth place in the PSC-Puregold International Chess Challenge at the Subic Bay Peninsular Hotel.

Abelgas jumps to share of 4th place in PH chess challenge | ABS-CBN News

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Abelgas jumps to share of 4th place in PH chess challenge

Abelgas jumps to share of 4th place in PH chess challenge