Standings (9 rounds)
7.0 points -- C. Li (China), Q.L. Le (Vietnam)
6.5 ? R. Antonio, M. Mahjoob (Iran), Z. Weiqi (China), D. Liu (Indonesia)
6.0 - W. So, B. Villamayor, J. Sadorra, E. Maghami (Iran), D.T. Hai (Vietnam), A.D. Nguyen (Vietnam), S. Irwanto (Indonesia)

Multi-titled Grandmaster (GM) Rogelio ?Joey? Antonio Jr. gently reminded everyone that he is still a major force to reckon with in local and international chess when he converted a drawish endgame position into a gripping victory over National Master Rolando Nolte late Monday to keep his hopes alive in the $40,000 Philippine Open international chess championship at the Subic Exhibition and Convention Center.

Antonio pounced on Nolte's dubious Nc5 ? instead of Nf4 - to launch a brilliant attack and seal the win after more than four hours of play in their marathon 70 pushes of a Sicilian Skirmish.

Hardly bothered by all the attention being given to So since opening day, Antonio patiently worked his way back to emerge as the highest-placed Filipino player going into the final two rounds of the tough, 11-round tournament organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) under president Prospero ?Butch? Pichay and supported by the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA).

The pride of Calapan, Oriental Mindoro now has 6.5 points, just half a point behind pacesetters GMs Li Chao of China and Le Quang Liem of Vietnam, who drew their match at center stage.

?Mahirap pang sabihin, but I like my chances,? said Antonio, who is hoping to regain the country's top ranking from GM Wesley So.

Antonio is tied for third to sixth places with untitled Weiqi Zhou of China, GM Morteza Mahjoob of Iran and International Master (IM) Dede Liu of Indonesia.

GM Buenaventura ?Bong? Villamayor also continued his steady climb when he drew with top seed GM Ehsan Ghaem Maghami of Iran in 22 moves of the Center Counter.

The 41-year-old Villamayor has 6.0 points just a full point behind the two frontrunners.

Li, who is best remembered for winning the second President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Cup last year, and Le agreed to a draw after only 16 moves of the French defense to keep their share of the lead with seven points out of a possible nine.

Weiqi, who finished in a three-way tie for first place with Li and GM Ni Hua in the PGMA Cup, bounced back into contention for the $6,000 grand prize with a draw with GM Nguyen Anh Dung of Vietnam.

Mahjoob toppled GM Susanto Megaranto of Indonesia, while Liu split the point with IM Sadikin Irwanto of Indonesia in other ninth-round results.

Meanwhile, So kept his hopes alive by beating IM Richard Bitoon in 54 moves of the Sicilian to remain in contention with six points.

IM Julio Catalino Sadorra also moved up in the standings with six points when he humbled IM Zaw Htun Wynn of Myanmar.