Philippine Sports News and Updates

It was the second win for the 21-year-old Sadorra (ELO 2423), who improved to 2.5 points and gained a share of 17th to 37th place with GM Evgeny Shaposhnikov (2537) of Russia, who was held to a draw by IM Denny Juswanto (2467) of Indonesia.

Sadorra, who is seeking a second of three norms to gain the GM result, tackles Shaposhnikov in the fifth round Monday.

It was a double victory for the Filipinos as IM John Paul Gomez (2469) downed FM Arkadiusz Leniart (2315) of Poland.

The 24-year-old Gomez, also eyeing a second GM norm, now has 2 points to be in a logjam for 38th to 59th places.

The former four-time Philippine junior champion next takes on IM Oliver Kurmann (2389) of Switzerland, who halved the point with Israeli IM Sasha Kaplan (2456).

The A2 division, which lured 92 players with a FIDE rating of less than 2550 but higher than 2399, stakes a first prize of $12,000. The runner-up gets $8,000, the third placer $5,000, fourth placer $2,500 and fifth placer $1,500.

GM Stanislav Novikov (2545) beat fellow Russian GM Vladimir Dobrov (2501) to join GM Marat Askarov (2521) and IM Dmitry Kryakvin (2535) of Russia and GM Shukhrat Safin (2493) of Uzbekistan in the lead at 3.5 points.

Overnight co-leaders GMs Askarova and Safin drew their match while IM Kryakin disposed of IM Ana Ushenina (2484) of Ukraine.

In the premier A1 division, Boris Grachev (2601) upset fellow GM Evgenij Najer (2634) to pull abreast of GM Ian Nepomniachtchi (2600) with 3.5 points each.