GM Mikheil Mchedlishvili wins the 5th Prospero Pichay Cup:

Prior to the ninth and final round, both GM Mikheil Mchedlishvili of Georgia and Iranian GM Ehsan Ghaemmaghami shared the top spot with 6.0 points. Not taking anything for granted, both co-leaders defeated their respective opponents in the final round. Mchedlishvili beats current world junior champion, Abhijeet Gupta of India and Gaemmaghami beats defending champion, Li Shilong of China. But at the end of the day, it was the Georgian grandmaster who emerges victorious by piling up with the most superior tie break points over his Iranian rival, giving him the rights to claim the 5th Prospero Pichay International Chess Cup held from October 2 - 7 in Quezon City, the Philippines. The Pichay Cup, named after the current president of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines, Congressman Prospero Pichay Jr, is the twin tournament of the President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Chess Cup, an annual two weeks chess festival organized by NCFP.

With the win, the 30 year old Mikheil Mchedlishvili and rank no.4 in his native Georgia became the first European player to capture the tournament usually dominated by Asians. Mchedlishvili was very consistent all through out the tournament, always on top of the leader board from the first till the final round. Seven of his eight opponents he faced were all grandmasters and was undefeated with five wins and four draws with performance rating of 2752. GM Mchedlishvili recently won the Ravana chess challenge held in Sri Lanka where many grandmasters who saw action in that event also joins the 4th PGMA and Pichay Cup.

The same rule and system as the 4th PGMA Cup was also applied at the Pichay Cup. A nine roound Swiss system and the time control of 90 minutes for the whole game with an increment of 30 seconds per move starting from move 1. And to prevent an early draws, players are not allowed before the completion of Black’s 30th move unless by the repetition of position rule. Pichay Cup offers a total prize of $30,000 and $5,000 goes to the winner.

Final Standings after 9 Rounds

1 GM MCHEDLISHVILI Mikheil GEO 2613 7,0
2 GM GHAEMMAGHAMI Ehsan IRI 2579 7,0
3 GM ANTONIO Rogelio Jr PHI 2557 6,5
4 GM NGUYEN Ngoc Truong Son VIE 2589 6,5
5 GM ZHANG Zhong SIN 2606 6,5
6 GM LAYLO Darwin PHI 2537 6,0
7 GM DAO Thien Hai VIE 2542 6,0
8 GM DAS Neelotpal IND 2471 6,0
9 GM KOTANJIAN Tigran ARM 2553 5,5
10 GM GUPTA Abhijeet IND 2584 5,5
11 GM PARAGUA Mark PHI 2501 5,5
12 GM FILIPPOV Anton UZB 2595 5,5
13 GM GAGUNASHVILI Merab GEO 2564 5,5
14 GM LI Shilong CHN 2531 5,5
15 GM TORRE Eugenio PHI 2535 5,5
16 IM DABLEO Ronald PHI 2417 5,5
17 GM ISMAGAMBETOV Anuar KAZ 2528 5,5
18 IM NOLTE Rolando PHI 2424 5,5
19 GM KOSTENKO Pyotr KAZ 2491 5,5
20 IM DIMAKILING Oliver PHI 2434 5,5
21 FM DONGUINES Fernie PHI 2373 5,5
22 TIRTO INA 2407 5,0
23 ANDADOR Rolando PHI 2260 5,0
24 IM GARMA Chito PHI 2331 5,0
25 IM SENADOR Emmanuel PHI 2367 5,0
26 LUMANCAS Lyndon PHI 0 5,0
27 GM VILLAMAYOR Buenaventura PHI 2426 5,0
28 FM PASCUA Haridas PHI 2310 4,5
29 GM GOMEZ John Paul PHI 2521 4,5
30 MAGA Mirabeau PHI 2230 4,5
31 ELORTA David PHI 2326 4,5
32 BITOON Richard PHI 2490 4,5
33 ROQUE Merben PHI 2209 4,5
35 DATU Alcon John PHI 2188 4,0
36 MARIANO Nelson III PHI 2095 4,0
37 MACALA Allan PHI 2266 4,0
38 BRANZUELA Ali PHI 2288 4,0
39 LEGASPI Rhobel PHI 2325 4,0
40 MORAZO John Ranel PHI 2172 4,0
41 SEGARRA Randy PHI 2300 4,0
42 OLAY Edgar Reggie PHI 2325 4,0
43 WGM NADIG Krutika IND 2273 4,0
44 MILAGROSA Alexander PHI 2254 4,0
46 LAO Elias PHI 2233 4,0
47 FM CARLOS Leonardo PHI 2334 3,5
48 RICANA Leodegario PHI 2082 3,5
49 CAUSO Deniel PHI 2334 3,0
50 RIVERA Albert PHI 2172 3,0
51 POLAO Ben PHI 0 3,0
52 BAGAMASBAD Efren PHI 2311 3,0
53 BERNALES Christy Lamiel PHI 2056 3,0
54 PORTUGALERA Ric PHI 2221 3,0
55 LEE Elgin MAS 1810 3,0
56 CAUMBAN Jose Piff PHI 0 3,0
57 BAUTISTA Paolo Lorenzo PHI 0 2,5
58 BAGAYNA Magellan PHI 0 2,0
59 LEE William MAS 0 2,0
60 PINERO Arnel PHI 0 0,0