Bangkok: Filipino FIDE Master Christian Gian Karlo Arca settled for a draw with Indian Grandmaster Surya Shekhar Ganguly in Round 8 of the 22nd Bangkok Chess Club Open at the Royal Orchid Sheraton Riverside Hotel in Thailand last Sunday. Arca, playing the white pieces, split the point with Ganguly after 43 moves of the Catalan Opening, gaining 6.0 points and securing his third and final International Master (IM) norm.
According to Philippines News Agency, Arca is tied for sixth place with eight others, including his final round opponent, British GM Nigel Short, a former World Championship challenger. The 16-year-old from Panabo City, Davao del Norte province, expressed his ambition to aim for a win in the final round for a possible first Grandmaster (GM) norm.
Arca earned his first IM norm two years ago at the 18th IGB Dato Arthur Tan Malaysian Open Chess Championships in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He clinched the Quang Ninh GM chess tournament in Ha Long City, Vietnam, on May 19, 2024, which provided him with his second IM norm. Currently, Arca holds a 2250 ELO rating and needs a FIDE rating of 2400 or higher to complete his IM status.
In other tournament results, Filipino IM Michael Concio Jr. achieved victory over Australian IM James Morris in 66 moves of the Nimzo Indian defense, while compatriot IM Paulo Bersamina overcame Latvian Arsens Batashevs in 83 moves of the Double Fianchetto Opening. Both Concio Jr. and Bersamina gained 6.5 points, sharing second place with Indian Babu M R Lalit, who drew with GM Evgeny Romanov of North Macedonia after 20 moves of the Guico Piano Opening.
Romanov leads the standings with 7.0 points, tied with Malaysian FIDE Master Ern Jie Anderson Ang, who defeated British GM Stephen Gordon of England in 40 moves of the Slav defense. Meanwhile, Bersamina also excelled in the Makruk (Thai chess) category, securing victories against Singaporean Mooi Kok Onn, Vietnamese Dang Hoang Som, American Nixon Williams, Arvie Lozano, and Michael Culasing, while drawing with Raynaldo Aba-a in Round 6.
