IM Bacojo beats Russian foe in its title and GM norm bid in Moscow

FILIPINO INTERNATIONAL MASTER (im) Mark Jay Bacojo brought down fellow International Master Alexandr Triapishko of Russia in the eighth round on Tuesday to stay in the title and a Grandmaster (GM) norm bid in the Russian Chess Crown Standard A in Moscow.

The 19-year-old Far Eastern University standout pounced on a tiny kingside weakness by Mr. Triapishko and turned it into a full-scale attack that resulted into a victory that hiked the former’s total to six points.

A draw in the last two rounds would seal Mr. Bacojo, whose trip is bankrolled by the Philippine Sports Commission and the National Chess Federation of the Philippines, his first GM norm.

He was facing another Russian in FIDE Master (FM) Stanislav Bukreev in the ninth round as of this writing.

Another Philippine bet, FM Alekhine Nouri, drew with Turkmenistan’s GM Meylis Annaberdiyev that boosted his own bid for his second IM norm.

Over in General Santos, Filipino GM Daniel Quizon trounced IM Chito Garma to remain the last Filipino standing at the helm of the Manny Pacquiao International Open.

Mr. Quizon hiked his score to 3.5 points after four rounds to share the lead with GMs Novendra Priasmoro of Indonesia, Peng Li Min of Switzerland, Pa Iniyan of India and Arkadij Naiditsch of Bulgaria.

A Filipino in the second group with three points each was IM Kim Steven Yap with three points each. — Joey Villar