Garcia, Datu remains in second place; Nouri keeps share of lead

by Marlon Bernardino

International Master Jan Emmanuel Garcia of Manila and National Master Alcon John Datu of Caloocan City toppled their respective rivals to remain second place in the  on-going  14th ASEAN + Age Group Chess Championships 2013 being held at the Imperial Mae Ping Hotel in Chiangmai, Thailand on Wednesday. 

Garcia bested FM Mohamad Satibi of Indonesia while Datu toppled Mohammad Nubairshah Shaikh of India. Garcia and Datu, both tallied 5.0 points apiece after seven games of play in the Open Under-20 division of the Standard competition.

FM Nguyen Van Hai of Vietnam split the point with FM Haridas Pascua of Mangatarem, Pangasinan to still on top with 6.0 points going to the last two round. Pascua, on the other hand notch 4.5 points for solo fourth place.

Meanwhile, Alekhine Nouri of Escalante City, Negros Occidental took the measure of Vo Pham Thien Phuc of Vietnam  to keep his hopes the title alive yesterday. With the win, Nouri is tied for the lead with Chinguun Sumiya of Mongolia, who brought downed Bintang Rasyid A. Hidayat of Indonesia in the Open Under-8 division of the Standard competition.Nouri and Chinguun, both tallied 6.0 points apiece. 

However Michael Concio Jr. of Sta. Rosa, Laguna failed to catches Nouri and Chinguun on top after losing to Nguyen Duc Sang of Vietnam. Concio remains at 5.0 points, the same output of, Hidayat, Duc Sang and Nguyen Hoang Hiep of Vietnam and Ganzorig Amartuvshin of Mongolia. Jerish John Velarde of Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu drew with Nguyen Thanh Trung of Vietnam while James Henry Calacday of Antipolo City beat Tanakorn Tuwatawannurak of Thailand.

Other Filipino bets in contention are Jerad Docena of Bohol (5.0 points), National Master Giovanni Mejia of Labrador, Pangasinan (4.5 points) and FM Paulo Bersamina of Pasay City (4.5 points) in the Open Under-16 division, Daryl Unix Samantila of Tonsuya, Malabon (5.0 points) in the Open Under-14 division, WFM Marie Antoinette San Diego of Dasmarinas, Cavite (4.5 points), WIM elect Janelle Mae Frayna of Legaspi City, Albay (4.0 points) and WNM Jan Jodilyn Fronda of Manila (3.5 points) in the Girl Under-20 division,  Shania Mae Mendoza of Sta. Rosa, Laguna (5.0 points),  Ella Grace Moulic of Davao City (4.0 points) and Ynna Sophia Canape of Marikina City (3.5 points) in the Girl Under-16 division, Samantha Glo Revita of Rosales, Pangasinan (5.0 points) in the Girl Under-14 division, Allaney Jia G Doroy of Agusan del Norte (5.5 points) and Natori Biazza Diaz of Sagay City, Negros Oriental (5.0 points) in the Girl Under-12 division.