IM Senador earns GM norm, nears championship

With the win against erstwhile tournament leader Yu Yangyi of China in the penultimate round of DATMO 2009 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, IM Emmanuel Senador of the Philippines has already earned a GM norm for himself. (I don't know, though, if that's his first GM norm. Perhaps our reader Batilsky can provide some valuable insights on this, please.)

Even a loss in the final round against India's chess whizkid GM Negi Parimarjan will no longer dent on his earned GM norm.

Notably playing with Black in a Sicilian encounter, Senador beat Yu to become solo leader with 6.5 points.

A win over GM Negi, of course, would ensure Senador of the championship title. Hmmnn . . . a title plus a GM norm? He could really feel like a Senator, right?

Leaders after Round 8:

6.5 points
Senador Emmanuel

6 points
GM Negi Parimarjan, GM Ghaem Maghami Ehsan, GM Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son, GM Laylo Darwin, Yu Yangyi, GM Li Chao, GM Iuldachev Saidali, IM Dableo Ronald, GM Megaranto Susanto

5.5 points
GM Schebler Gerhard, Xiu Deshun, GM Nguyen Anh Dung, WIM Muminova Nafisa, WIM Zhang Xiaowen, IM Bitoon Richard