PH IM Concio draws with GM Grebnev of Russia... BRILLIANT SHOW!

TAGAYTAY -- World Cup veteran IM Michael Concio Jr. came through with another brilliant performance as he held top seed and defending champion GM Aleksey Grebnev of Russia to a draw in the fifth round of the Asian Juniors and Girls Chess Championships at the Knights Templar Hotel here Wednesday.

Concio, the country’s highest-rated junior player but seeded only eighth in the tournament with an ELO of 2368, played superbly with the white pieces to split the point with Grebnev after 48 moves of the Nimzo-Indian.

Both Concio, who is best remembered for representing the country in the 2021 World Cup held in Sochi, Russia, and Grebnev have five pawns each when the game was drawn.

The fifth-round draw snapped Grebnev’s four-game winning streak and put Concio in a three-way tie for second to fourth places with four poitns in the nine-round Swiss system event organized by the Asian Chess Federation (ACF) in cooperation with the Tagaytay City government, Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) and Philippine Sports Commisison (PSC).

Equally impressive was FM Gian Karlo Arca, who outlasted Chen Y. Yu of Taipei in marathon 74 moves of the English opening.

Arca, who lost to Concio in their all-Filipino showdown in the fourth round Tuesday, climbed to a share of fifth to ninth places with 3.5 points, a full point behind Grebnev with still four rounds left.

Phil Martin Casiguran humbled K K Dinujaya’ Kodithuwakku of Sri Lanka, Davin Sean Romualdez bested compatriot AIM Andrew James Toledo to move up to three points.

Not as fortunate were AFM Andrei Ainsley Dolorosa, who yielded to IM Artem Uskov of Russia and Almwayne Magpusao, who fell to CM Ragavesh Velavaa of India.

In the girls division, WIM Anna Shukhman of Russia walloped Dhanashree Khairmode of India to keep her perfect record with five straight wins.

ACM Ainul Mardhiah Mohd of Malaysia upset No. 3 seed WIM Zeinep Sultanbek of India to move up to solo second place with four points.

It was a bad day for the Filipinas, with WFM Jemaican Yap Mendoza losing to WFM V. Rindhiya of India, Elle Castronuevo falling to No.5 WFM Kristina Popandopolu of Kazakhstan and Apple Rubin bowing to WFM Devindya Oshini Gunawardhana of Sri Lanka.

Arleah Cassandra Sapuan was the lone Filipina winner as she defeated Alexis Rian Justo of Guam.

The moves - Round 5

M. Concio (Philippines) vs. A. Grebnev (Russia)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.Bg5 dxc4 6.e4 c5 7.Bxc4 cxd4 8.Nxd4 Qa5 9.Bb5+ Bd7 10.Bxf6 gxf6 11.Qd3 Bxc3+ 12.Qxc3 Qxc3+ 13.bxc3 a6 14.Bd3 Nc6 15.Nxc6 Bxc6 16.O-O-O Ke7 17.g3 Rhd8 18.Rhe1 Rd7 19.Bc2 Rc7 20.Kb2 Rac8 21.Re3 h6 22.Rd4 Bb5 23.Bb3 Rc5 24.Rd2 Bc6 25.Rd4 Rh5 26.h4 Rc5 27.Rc4 Re5 28.Rd4 Bb5 29.Ba4 Rc4 30.Rxc4 Bxc4 31.Bb3 Bb5 32.f4 Rc5 33.e5 f5 34.Bd1 Bc6 35.Bf3 Bxf3 36.Rxf3 Rd5 37.Kc2 Kd7 38.c4 Rd4 39.Rd3 Rxd3 40.Kxd3 Kc6 41.h5 Kc5 42.Kc3 a5 43.a3 b5 44.cxb5 Kxb5 45.Kb3 a4+ 46.Kb2 Kb6 47.Kc2 Kc6 48.Kd2 1/2-1/2