By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
International Master Paulo Bersamina shocked Ukrainian Grandmaster Vitaliy Bernardskiy in 67 moves of a Sicilian Defense to finish second in the Bangkok Chess Club Open in Thailand Monday, April 22.
The many-time Olympiad veteran finished with an unbeaten record of 7.5 points out of the possible nine on six wins and three draws, which was good for solo No. 2 behind eventual winner GM Evgeny Romanov of Macedonia with eight points.
While it didn’t result to a GM norm, which would have been his second, Bersamina’s feat gave him the needed boost as he seeks a World Cup slot in the Asian Zonals in Mongolia.
It also earned Bersamina 15.4 rating points, which should hike his rating from 2411 to 2426.4.
Another Filipino IM in Michael Concio, Jr. finished in a five-player logjam at third with seven points each.
But after tiebreaks were applied, Concio, who drew with Indian GM Babu Lalit in 42 moves of a Slav duel, ended up fifth overall with the latter claiming No. 3.
FIDE Master Christian Gian Carlo Arca, meanwhile, succumbed to former world challenger GM Nigel Short of England in 40 moves of a Caro-kann Defense to slipped to 16th spot.
