ANTONIO WINS, TORRE FALTERS IN WORLD SENIOR CHESS

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FILIPINO Grandmaster Rogelio "Joey" Antonio Jr. (Elo 2431) trounced American Fide Master Krishan Jhunjhnuwala (Elo 2340) in the eight round Thursday to create a two-way tie for second place in the 27th World Senior Chess Championship 2017 (50+ and 65+ Open-men and women) in Acqui Terme, Italy.

With the win, the 55-years-old Calapan, Oriental Mindoro native Antonio, improved his total to 6.5 points, the same output of French GM Eric Prie (Elo 2482).

Antonio downed Jhunjhnuwala after 65 moves of Sicilian defense, Rossolimo Attack variation while Prie outclassed Gerogian GM Zurab Sturua (Elo 2536) after 54 moves of English Opening.

According to Philippine executive chess champion Atty. Cliburn Anthony A. Orbe, who watched the game live streaming at chessbomb.com, Jhunjhnuwala resigned when Antonio pushed his pawn to the g5 square and checking the opponent King of Jhunjhnuwala and also threatened the rook of the latter.

Top seed GM Julio Granda Zuniga of Peru (Elo 2650) subdued GM Klaus Bischoff of Germany (Elo 2513) after 39 moves of English Opening to grab the lead with 7. 0 points in this 11 Round-Swiss system tournament, 50-years-old category.

In the 65-years-old above category, Asia's First GM Eugene Torre of the Philippines (Elo 2465) yielded to IM Arkady Shevelev of Israel (Elo 2280) after 51 moves of another Sicilian Skirmish. Torre remains at 5.5 points.

GM Vlastimil Jansa of Czech Republic (Elo 2425) toppled FM Christian Hess of Germany (Elo 2236) after 31 moves of Double Fianchetto Opening to share the lead with Shevelev, GM Vladimir Okhotnik of France (Elo 2434) and Boris Malisov of Israel (Elo 2240) at the top of the 65 and over division of the 11-round tournament. They have 6.5 points each.

Okhotnik defeated GM Davorin Komljenovic of Croatia (Elo 2379) after 16 moves of Sicilian defense while Malisov dealt GM Yuri S Balashov of Russia (Elo 2437) after 11 moves of Irregular Openings.

Tournament favorite GM Anatoly Vaisser of France (Elo 2503) split the point with GM Lothar Vogt of Germany (Elo 2398). The duo tallied 6.0 points apiece.