Young Indon Hafiz upsets IM Nolte to seize MPCA solo lead

GENERAL SANTOS City ― A young talented Fide Master from Indonesia stole the limelight in Round 6 as Arif Abdul Hafiz upstaged frontrunner Filipino International Master Rolando Nolte to seize the solo lead in the $35,000-rich Manny Pacquiao International Chess Tournament at the Family Country Homes Convention Center here.

Humid Sunday, December 10 simply belonged to the Indonesian flag as the 24-year-old Hafiz and the top-seeded Grandmaster Novendra Priasmoro both played in style with the white side of the Sicilian defense to occupy the 1-2 spots with 5.5 and 5 points, respectively, going into the last three rounds of the nine-round Swiss individual contest.

Seeking a third and final International Master norm, the remarkably focused Hafiz outmaneuvered the veteran Nolte with his active piece development to claim the victory in 60 moves.

“He’s (FM Hafiz) been playing with high percentage win and could gain the IM title in this Manny Pacquiao International Tournament,” said chief arbiter James Infiesto.

Fellow Indonesian Priasmoro, who won the 8th Johor International Chess Open 2023 Masters in Malaysia last July, forced the resignation of Russian IM Oleg Badmatsyrenov in 41 squeakers.

In the seventh round, still in progress as of post time (morning of December 11), Hafiz ― who became a National Master at the age of 7 and national record holder of blind chess simul in Indonesia ― faces American IM Josiah Stearman on board one. The rejuvenated Priasmoro, who lost to Nolte in Round 3, takes another daunting task against the third-seed Filipino GM Darwin Laylo on board 2.

Stearman, who crushed Russian IM Alexey Polschikov with black in 37 moves of the Slav defense, and Laylo who overpowered his IM compatriot Ronald Dableo in 32 pushes of the English opening are both toting with 5 points in a better position to pull up a surprise.

Half a point behind them are Badmatsyrenov and the three Filipinos IM Eric Labog Jr, FM Mark Jay Bacojo, and Nolte.