Congratulations, GM Eugene Torre

The Philippines and Asia's first chess Grand Master, Eugene Torre, bagged the title in the 3rd PGMA Cup International Open yesterday at the Duty Free Fiesta Mall in Paranaque City. He tied the first place with GM Li Chao of China and GM Zhang Zhong of Singapore. Eugene was declared as the champion because of a better tiebreak point. He has 2572 tiebreak point against Chao's 2533 and Zhong's 2532. GM Chao was the champion last year.

After the 8th round, Torre and Zhong tied the first place at 6.5 points each, while Chao was in the second place, together with GM Mikheil Mchedlishvili of Georgia, with 6 points.

In the final round, Torre and Zhong drew their respective games while Chao won his. The three ended up tied with 7 points each. They split the total prizes of the 1st to 3rd place cash prizes of US$15,000 or at $5,000 each.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

GM's Eugene Torre and Zhong Zhang tie the lead

After the 8th round of the 3rd Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (PGMA) Cup International Open, Grand Masters Eugene Torre of the Philippines and Zhong Zhang of Singapore tied the first place at 6.5 points each. Grand Masters Li Chao of China and Mikheil Mchedlishvili of Georgia shared the second place at 6.0 points each. There's a triple tie in the third place at 5 points each; Grand Master Ehsan Ghaemmaghami of Iran, International Master Julio Catalino Sadorra of the Philippines and Weiqi Zhou of China.

Torre had been in solo lead until he suffered his first loss in the hands of third seed Mchedlishvili in the 8th round.

Today is the 9th and last round of the cup, which started on September 7 and is being held at the Duty Free Fiesta Mall, Paranaque City.