FILIPINO Grandmaster Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr. (Elo 2431) trounced American Fide Master Krishan Jhunjhnuwala (Elo 2340) in the 8th round Thursday, to climb to 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-year-old Antonio, padded 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 Georgian GM Zurab Sturua (Elo 2536) after 54 moves of English Opening.
Jhunjhnuwala resigned when Antonio pushed his pawn in the g5 square and checking his opponent’s King while also threatening his rook.
Top seed GM Julio Granda Zuniga of Peru (Elo 2650) subdued GM Klaus Bischoff of Germany (Elo 2513) after 39 moves of an English Opening to grab the solo lead with 7. 0 points in the 50 years old and above category of the 11-round, Swiss system tournament.
Meanwhile, in the 65 years old and above category, Asia’s First GM Eugene Torre of the Philippines (Elo 2465) was stunned by IM Arkady Shevelev of Israel (Elo 2280) after 51 moves of another Sicilian Skirmish. Torre remains at 5.5 points.
GM Vlastimil Jansa of the 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) with 6.5 points each.
Okhotnik defeated GM Davorin Komljenovic of Croatia (Elo 2379) after 16 moves of Sicilian defense while Malisov crushed GM Yuri S Balashov of Russia (Elo 2437) after 11 moves of Irregular Opening.
Tournament favorite GM Anatoly Vaisser of France (Elo 2503) split the point with GM Lothar Vogt of Germany (Elo 2398) as both tallied 6.0 points.