Congratulations to our new Grandmaster

Barcenilla is RP’s 11th grandmaster
06/04/2009 05:42 PM

MANILA, Philippines – International master Rogelio Barcenilla Jr. became the country’s 11th grandmaster after bagging his third and final GM norm.

Barcenilla's victory over Georgian GM Zviad Izoria in the Copper State International Chess Championship last May 29 to June 3 in Mesa, Arizona, gave the Filipino his much-coveted GM title.

According to the United States Chess Federation, the former San Sebastian College mainstay defeated Izoria after 31 moves of a King's Indian Defense.

Barcenilla, currently based on Mandaluyong but originally from Iligan City, finished just a point behind eventual winner Uzbek GM Timur Gareev, who accumulated 8.0 points in the 10-round event.

With his GM norm completed, Barcenilla joins an elite group composed of Eugene Torre, Joey Antonio, Bong Villamayor, Nelson Mariano II, Mark Paragua, Wesley So, Darwin Laylo, Jayson Gonzales, John Paul Gomez, Joseph Sanchez and the late Rosendo Balinas Jr.

Torre was actually Asia's first grandmaster. – GMANews.TV

IM Rogelio Barcenilla win over GM Zviad Izoria to earn his third and final GM norm.
[Event "Copper State International Chess Championship 2009"][Site "Mesa, Arizona"][Date "2009.6.3"][Round ""][White "IM Rogelio Barcenilla"][Black "GM Zviad Izoria"][Result "1-0"][Eco "B07"][Annotator ""][Source ""]
1.e4 d6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.g3 Nf6 5.Bg2 O-O 6.Nge2 a6 7.O-Oc6 8.a4 a5 9.d4 Na6 10.h3 Nb4 11.Be3 e5 12.Qd2 Qe7 13.Rad1 h514.f4 exd4 15.Bxd4 Re8 16.b3 Nd7 17.Bxg7 Kxg7 18.f5 Na6 19.Nf4Nac5 20.Nxh5+ gxh5 21.f6+ Nxf6 22.Qg5+ Kf8 23.Qh6+ Kg8 24.Rxf6Qe5 25.Rdf1 Be6 26.Ne2 Nd7 27.R6f2 f6 28.Qg6+ Kf8 29.Qh7 Bf730.Rf5 Qb2 31.Nf4 1-0