PNG: Garcia grabs solo lead in Standard chess tilt; Paragua, Pascua share 2nd spot

by Marlon Bernardino

Manila---International Master Jan Emmanuel Garcia of Manila grabbed the solo lead in the 2013 POC-PSC Philippine National Games Standard chess competition following an impressive victory over Eden Diano of Cebu

held at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) Main Campus, Sta. Mesa, Manila.

The Ateneo de Manila University top player raised his total to 5.5 points in six rounds.

Top seed GM Mark Paragua of Quezon City and Fide Master Haridas Pascua of Mangatarem, Pangasinan agreed to a truce and share second to third placers after tallying identical 5.0 points apiece.

12-time national open champion GM Rogelio "Joey" Antonio Jr. defeated Jeffrey Ravago of Manila to lead the group of 4.5 points in the company of GM John Paul Gomez of Binan, Laguna, IM Barlo Nadera of Malabon, IM elect Mari Joseph Turqueza of Quezon City and NM Alcon John Datu of Caloocan City.

In the women's play, WFM Rulp Ylem Jose of Taguig split the point with WIM Bernadette Galas of Makati to scored 4.5 points and create a three-way tie for first place along with WNM Jedara Docena of Bohol.

Docena also drew with WNM Cecilia Cuizon of Cagayan de Oro City. Cuizon and top seed WIM Catherine Perena of San Jose Delmonte, Bulacan share fourth to fifth placers with 4.0 points each. Perena beat Jerirose Lucero of Cavite City.

Meanwhile, Felix Shaun Balbona of Cebu is leading in the junior boys category with 5.0 points, half point ahead over Jaymarc Gutierrez of Manila and Christian Nanola of San Pablo City while Jean Karen Enriquez of Marikina City and Adelaide Joie Lim of Bacolod City remained on top in the junior girls category with 5.0 points each.NCFP Executive Director GM Jayson Gonzales is the tournament director while International Arbiter Gene Poliarco is the chief arbiter.