2nd in Tan Sri Lee Loy Seng Seniors

The tournament was won for the second time by Uzbek GM Dimitri Kayumov who had a big lead over the rest. I managed a second placing in the Seniors tournament. Thanks largely to the last round game between Filipinos IM Luis Chiong and  Efren Bagamasbad.  Luis Chiong had a half point lead over me and needed only a draw in the last game to take the second spot on better tie-break.

The Filipino IM was in trouble in the middle-game. Somehow he managed to survive to the ending. Thereupon he sacrificied his bishop and knight for black's two remaining pawns, thinking that he had a theoretical draw. Now, two knights ending is drawn except when the opponent has a remaining pawn. Furthermore the win can only be achieved if the pawn is blocked on certain squares. In this game the pawn was blocked correctly. Black displayed some good technique to force the white king into a corner reaching the following position with black to move -

IM Luis Chiong - Efren Bagamasbad

Black won with 1....Kd2! 2. Ka2 Kc2 3. Ka1 Ne4! and white resigned. The end is close - 4. g5 Nc3 5. g6  Na5 6. g7 Nb3 mate.