Garcia grabs solo lead in 14th ASEAN + Age Group Chess Championships 2013

by Marlon Bernardino

INTERNATIONAL MASTER Jan Emmanuel Garcia is showing the form that made him a star in PSC-POC Philippine National Games in the ongoing 14th ASEAN + Age Group Chess Championships 2013 rapid chess competition at the Imperial Mae Ping Hotel in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

The pride of Manila downed Fide Master Sumiya Bilguun of Mongolia to grab the solo lead after five rounds. Garcia improved to 4.5 points. "Sana maging maganda po performance natin dito sa 14th ASEAN + Age Group Chess Championships,"said Gacia, who topped the standard event during the PSC-POC Philippine National Games in PUP Sta.Mesa, Manila.

His fourth round co-leader and countryman National Master Alcon John Datu failed to keep pace after halving the point with compatriot FM Haridas Pascua. Datu from Caloocan City climbed to solo second with 4.0 points, half point ahead over Pascua, FM  Nguyen Van Hai of Vetnam and CM Tan Weiliang of Singapore who totes 3.5 points each. Nguyen nipped FM Tin Jingyao of Vietnam while Tan blasted FM Tran Tuan Minh of Vietnam. The top finisher in the Open Under-20 division will gain outright International Master title.

FM Lu Chan Hung of Vietnam lording over Open Under-16 division with crucial wins against IM elect Jerad Docena in the third and FM Paulo Bersamina of the Philippines in the fourth and CM Azarya Jodi Setyaki of Indonesia in the fifth round to remain unbeaten with five points.

Docena, a habitue of Spare and Strike in Bangkal, Makati bounced back in contention after demolishing Khumnorkaew Tupfah of Thailand in the fourth and Nguyen Tri Thien of Vietnam  in the fifth round to gain a share of second place with four points, the same output of Pasay ace Bersamina, who brought downed Ding Tze How Dilwen of Malaysia in the fifth and CM Le Thanh Tai of Vietnam, who nipped compatriot CM Le Huu Thai of Vietnam. National Master Giovanni Mejia of Labrador, Pangasinan who lost to Docena in the second round was tied at 10th to 12th placers with 2.5 points.

Marikina whiz kid Julius Gonzales crushed Ng Jen Sheng of Malaysia to create a four-way tie for second place with Rajaryan Kuvelka of India, Do Duc Viet of Vietnam and Wong Yinn Long of Malaysia who notch 4.0 points each. FM Nguyen Anh Khoi of Vietnam dealt CM Nitish Belurkar of India and remained on top in the Open Under-12 division with perfect 5.0 points.

Stephen Rome Pangilinan of Bulacan dismantled Constantius Leonardo Pratama of Indonesia to catches Istraelito Rilloraza of Las Pinas City who remains at 3.0 points. Long beat Pangilinan and Rilloraza in the fourth and fifth round, respectively.

Daniel Quizon of Taytay, Rizal is showing the way in the Open Under-10 division with perfect 4.5 points. He drew with Mohammad Fahad Rahman of Bangladesh in the fifth round. 

Ronad Canino, Adrian de Luna and John Ruiz Bravo defeated their respective rivals to raised their total 3.0 points. Ngo Duc Tri of Vietnam  subdued Lye Lik Zang of Malaysia for his fifth straight wins in as many rounds.

Meanwhile, Alekhine Nouri of Escalante City, Negros Occidental defeated Nguyen Phuc Nguyen of Vietnam to scored 4.0 points, a good for a share of 3rd to 6th placers. Vo Pham Thien Phuc of Vietnam still leading in the Open Under-8 division with perfect 5.0 points followed by Ganzorig Amartuvshin of Mongolia with 4.5 points.

In the distaff side, Samantha Glo Revita of Rosales, Pangasinan and Phan Bao Khanh of Vietnam tallied 4.5 points and share the lead in the Girl Under-14 class. Alexis Anne Osena of Quezon Province collected 4.0 points but May Ann Alcantara of Calumpit, Bulacan notch 2.0 points.

Ynna Sophia Canape of Marikina (4.0 points), Shania Mae Mendoza of Sta. Rosa, Laguna (3.0 points) and Ella Grace Moulic of Davao City (2.5 points) waylaid their fifth round opponents.

The country's campaign in the tournament is supported by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) headed by Chairman/President Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr., Secretary-General Cavite 7th district Rep. Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino Jr. and Deputy Secretary-General Red Dumuk, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and Philippine Olympic Committee (POC).

Delegation head is NCFP Executive Director grandmaster (GM) Jayson Gonzales.