5th Pichay Cup final round

(IN PHOTO: Unknown, unrated Lyndon Lumancas, tormentor of GM Jayson Gonzales in Round 8.)

Notable notes entering
Round 9:

A win by tournament leaders either GM MCHEDLISHVILI Mikheil or GM GHAEMMAGHAMI Ehsan in the final round will seal the championshiop title

Nine GMs are tied from No.3 to No.11 spots, all with 5.5 points, just half a point behind the two leaders

Losses of both leaders will surely result in interesting tie breakers among the 5.5 pointers

GM Antonio will face one of the two tournament leaders in the name of GM Ehsan; a win by Antonio could possibly earn for him the championship title

Filipino GMs Antonio, Laylo, and Torre are still within striking distance for the title

Notable notes in Round 8

GM Mark Paragua lost to world junior champion GM GUPTA Abhijeet; a win by Paragua could have put him among the tournament leaders

GM Torre beat IM Richard Bitoon; Bitoon cannot get his third and final GM norm regardless of the result of the final round

FM Haridas Pascua drew with GM John Paul Gomez; it was Haridas' sevent draw in eight games

Unknown Lyndon Lumancas beat GM Jayson Gonzales

Rankings after Round 8

Rk. Name Pts.
1 gm MCHEDLISHVILI Mikheil 6
2 gm GHAEMMAGHAMI Ehsan 6
3 gm LAYLO Darwin 5.5
4 gm ANTONIO Rogelio Jr 5.5
5 gm NGUYEN Ngoc Truong Son 5.5
6 gm ZHANG Zhong 5.5
7 gm GUPTA Abhijeet 5.5
8 gm GAGUNASHVILI Merab 5.5
9 gm LI Shilong 5.5
10 gm TORRE Eugenio 5.5
11 gm ISMAGAMBETOV Anuar 5.5
12 gm DAO Thien Hai 5
13 gm KOTANJIAN Tigran 5
14 gm FILIPPOV Anton 5
15 gm PARAGUA Mark 5
16 gm DAS Neelotpal 5
17 im DABLEO Ronald 5
18 gm KOSTENKO Pyotr 5
19 LUMANCAS Lyndon 5
20 fm PASCUA Haridas 4.5
21 gm GOMEZ John Paul 4.5
22 MAGA Mirabeau 4.5
23 ELORTA David 4.5
24 BITOON Richard 4.5
25 im NOLTE Rolando 4.5
26 im DIMAKILING Oliver 4.5
27 fm DONGUINES Fernie 4.5
28 TIRTO 4
29 ANDADOR Rolando 4
30 im SENADOR Emmanuel 4
31 im GARMA Chito 4
32 ROQUE Merben 4
33 MARIANO Nelson III 4
34 BRANZUELA Ali 4
35 gm GONZALES Jayson 4
36 gm VILLAMAYOR Buenaventura 4
37 wgm NADIG Krutika 4
38 DATU Alcon John 3.5
39 MACALA Allan 3.5
40 LEGASPI Rhobel 3.5
41 fm CARLOS Leonardo 3.5
42 BAGAMASBAD Efren 3.5
43 MILAGROSA Alexander 3.5
44 LAO Elias 3.5
45 RIVERA Albert 3
46 SEGARRA Randy 3
47 OLAY Edgar Reggie 3
48 BERNALES Christy Lamiel 3
49 PORTUGALERA Ric 3
50 CASTELLANO Christopher 3
51 CAUSO Deniel 2.5
52 MORAZO John Ranel 2.5
53 BAUTISTA Paolo Lorenzo 2.5
54 RICANA Leodegario 2.5
55 POLAO Ben 2
56 LEE Elgin 2
57 BAGAYNA Magellan 2
58 LEE William 2
59 CAUMBAN Jose Piff 2
60 PINERO Arnel 0