Garcia, Mendoza sustain Asean chess title run

International Master Jan Emmanuel Garcia and Woman Fide Master Shania Mae Mendoza drew their fifth round matches Thursday night to  keep their title drives going in the JAPFA Asean Chess Championship in Jakarta, Indonesia.

The 20-year-old Garcia and Mendoza, 17, agreed to a truce with Indonesian GM Susanto Megaranto and Malaysian Woman Candidate Master Hisham Nur Nabila Azman, respectively, and shared top spot in the Open and Women’s section of the tournament.

Garcia, stalwart of Ateneo de Manila University was at 3.5 points with FM Malaysian FM Li Tian Yeoh while Mendoza, representing Far Eastern University, was at 4.0 points with Vietnamese Woman Grand Master Thi Mai Hung Nguyen.

Compatriot WIMs Janelle Mae Frayna and Bernadette Galas, representing  De La Salle University, drew their match to land at 3.5 and 3.0 points, respectively.

IM Paulo Bersamina forged a draw with Vietnamese GM Dao Thien Hai to improve to 2.5 points, towing GM Darwin Laylo, who split the point with IM Zaw Htun Wynn of Myanmar for 2.0 points.

The 11-round tournament took a break Friday and will resume with the sixth round Saturday.

Garcia and Yeoh will dispute the solo lead while Mendoza will tangle with Indonesian WIM Chelsie Monica Ignesia Sihete, who totes 3.5 points.