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Concio smashes Chinese rival, jumps to share of fifth in Bangkok chess tourney

Sports

Concio smashes Chinese rival, jumps to share of fifth in Bangkok chess tourney

At A Glance

International Master Michael Concio, Jr. smashed Chinese teen Zhang Haoxuan in 63 moves of a Queen's Pawn London System to jump to a share of fifth place after seven rounds of the Bangkok Chess Club Open in Thailand Saturday night.

International Master Michael Concio, Jr. smashed Chinese teen Zhang Haoxuan in 63 moves of a Queen’s Pawn London System to jump to a share of fifth place after seven rounds of the Bangkok Chess Club Open in Thailand Saturday night.

Screenshot 2025-04-20 at 1.26.57 PM.png — Michael Concio Jr.

The win improved the 19-year-old World Cup veteran to 5.5 points and caught up with FIDE Master Christian Gian Carlo Arca and IM Pau Bersamina in that six-player group.

Arca and Bersamina, for their parts, fought to a 41-move draw of a King’s Indian Attack to remain in striking distance with solo leader Grandmaster Evgeny Romanov of Macedonia with 6.5 points.

Tied at second with six points apiece were GMs Babu Lalit of India, Stephen Gordon of England and FM Ang Ern Jie Anderson of Malaysia.

Of the three Filipinos in contention, the 16-year-old Arca has the strongest chance of earning either a GM or an IM norm.

The Panabo, Davao del Norte native could achieve the GM norm if he ends up sweeping his last two games including one against Indian GM Surya Shekhar Ganguly in the eighth and penultimate round.

If he doesn’t, he could settle for his third and last IM norm to claim an IM title assuming he at least gets one point in the last two rounds.

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Michael Concio Jr.

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