1st Dragon Vietnam Chess Open

Our men led by GM Wesley So performed well in the recently concluded 1st Dragon Vietnam Chess Open that ran from August 26 to September 2, 2008 in Vung Tau, Vietnam.

Here's how they made our country proud:

Filipino players are highlighted.

My favorite game in the tournament was IM Richard Bitoon's (2439) battle against the No.2-seeded player, Ngoc Truong Son Nguyen (2579) of Vietnam in Round 2.

Position after 77. . . Ke5.

IM Bitoon simply wrapped up the game with 78.bxa5!

Here is the full game:

Bitoon,Richard (2439) - Nguyen,Ngoc Truong Son (2579)

[C10]1st Dragon Capital Vietnam chess open Vung Tau

(2.2), 27.08.2008

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.Bg5 Be7 6.e5 Nd7 7.h4 a6 8.Qd2 h6 9.Bf4 Nb6 10.Rh3 Bd7 11.Rg3 Bf8 12.a4 Ne7 13.Rh3 Nc4 14.Qc1 Ng6 15.Bh2 Bb4 16.Bd3 c5 17.Kf1 cd4 18.Ne2 Qb6 19.b3 Na5 20.Nfd4 Bc5 21.h5 Ne7 22.Qf4 Nac6 23.Nc6 Nc6 24.Rf3 0-0-0 25.Qf7 Rdf8 26.Qg7 Rfg8 27.Qf6 Be7 28.Qf4 Rg5 29.Bg6 Ne5 30.Rc3+ Bc6 31.Qd4 Qd4 32.Nd4 Bf6 33.Be5 Be5 34.Rd1 Rg4 35.Rcd3 Rd4 36.Rd4 Bd4 37.Rd4 Rf8 38.Rg4 e5 39.Bh7 Kd7 40.Rg7+ Ke6 41.Ke2 e4 42.Ke3 d4+ 43.Kd4 Rf2 44.Rg6+ Ke7 45.Rh6 Rg2 46.Be4 Rg4 47.Rc6 bc6 48.h6 Ke6 49.b4 Rh4 50.h7 Rh3 51.a5 Rh5 52.Bd3 Rh4+ 53.Be4 Rh5 54.Ke3 Ke5 55.Bd3 Rh3+ 56.Kd2 Rh2+ 57.Kc3 Rh3 58.Kc4 Kd6 59.Kd4 Rh4+ 60.Be4 Rh5 61.Kc4 Rh4 62.Kb3 Rh3+ 63.c3 Rh2 64.Bf5 Ke5 65.Bd3 Kd5 66.Bg6 Kd6 67.Be4 Rh6 68.Ka4 Rh2 69.Kb3 Rh3 70.Kc2 Rh2+ 71.Kd3 Rh3+ 72.Kd4 Rh5 73.c4 Rh4 74.b5 c5+ 75.Kc3 Rh3+ 76.Kb2 Rh2+ 77.Ka1 Ke5 78.ba6 Ke4 79.a7 1-0