GM Gomez starts title defense in France
FILIPINO Grandmaster (GM) Joseph Sanchez will begin his title retention bid today in the 26th Cannes Chess Festival at the Lerins Island in Cannes, France.
Sanchez, who ruled the 2009 and 2011 editions of the tournament, will be up against 60 masters from different parts of the world including top seed Grandmaster Etienne Bacrot of France.
A total cash prize of 10,000 Euro is up for grabs in the nine-round event with the champion getting 2,200 Euro.
Meanwhile, International Master (IM) Jan Emmanuel Garcia lost to GM Alexey Kislinsky of Czech Republic in the eighth round to formally bow out of contention in the 11th Aeroflot Open Chess Championships 2012 Group B division being held at the Hotel Cosmos in Moscow, Russia.
Garcia dropped to a share of 55th to 76th places with four points.
GM John Paul Gomez also succumbed to GM Arseny Alavkin of Russia to join the group of three-pointers at 94th place.
GM Emre Can of Turkmenistan is still on top with seven points.
Source: http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/sports/top-sports-news/17292-gm-gomez-starts-title-defense-in-france
