Leaders after nine rounds (RP unless stated):
7.0 points – C. Li (China), Q.L. Le (Vietnam); 6.5 – W. Zhou (China); 6.0 – W. So, B. Villamayor, E. Ghaemmagami (Iran), A.D. Nguyen (Vietnam), S. Irwanto (Indonesia), D. Liu (Indonesia), C. Sadorra; 5.5 – W. Li (China), Z. Xiaowen (China), D. Juswanto (Indonesia), R. Antonio, B. Villamayor, R. Nolte, E. Maghami (Iran), S. Megaranto (Indonesia), A.D. Nguyen (Vietnam), M. Mahjoob (Iran), S. Irwanto (Indonesia); 5.0—W. So, R. Bitoon, J. Sadorra, J. Gomez, D. Elorta, Z.H. Wynn (Myanmar), D.T. Hai (Vietnam), L. Wang (China), X. Zhang (China)
SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—Grandmasters LI Chao of China and Le Quang Liem of Vietnam tried but failed to break their tie Monday night, settling for a draw and sharing the lead in the 2nd Philippine Open chess championship at the Subic International Convention Center here.
Li, winner of last year’s second PGMA Cup, agreed to halve the point with Le after 41 moves of a Gruenfeld, giving them 7.0 points with two rounds to go in the $40,000 tournament.
Filipino top hope GM Wesley So rebounded from an eighth-round loss to Li by downing compatriot International Master Richard Bitoon in 54 moves of a Sicilian-Svesnikov.
Tied with countrymen
So, who played with black, improved to 6.0 points in a tie with countrymen GM Buenaventura “Bong” Villamayor and IM Julio Catalino Sadorra and three others.
The 21-year-old Sadorra ably handled black to beat IM Zaw Hun Wynn of Myanmar.
Villamayor, who ended his five-year stint as chess instructor in Singapore to resume his playing career, drew with top-seeded Iranian GM Ehsan Ghaemmagami after 22 moves of a Center Counter.
Also with 6.0 points were Ghaemmagami, GM Anh Dung Nguyen of Vietnam and IM Sadikin Irwanto of Indonesia and Singapore-based Filipino IM Julio Catalino Sadorra.
“I’m still rusty, ” said the 41-year-old Villamayor. “Mga two to three tournaments pa.”
The 14-year-old So, showing signs of fatigue after nearly three months of tournament play, was also beaten by Chinese Weiqi Zhou in the fifth round.
‘Wesley looks tired’
“Wesley looks tired,” said William So, Wesley’s father. “I’m thinking of giving him a break.”
In an all-Filipino showdown, GM Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr. and National Master Rolando Nolte remained locked in battle at press time. They both have 5.5 points, though Antonio enjoys a slight edge.
The 11-round tournament organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines under president Prospero “Butch” Pichay and secretary general Tagaytay Mayor Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino will hold its penultimate round Tuesday night.
Meanwhile, NM Emmanuel Senador and Nelson Villanueva hurdled their matches to climb to 4.5 points and gain IM Results.
Senador beat FIDE Master Adrian Pacis while Villanueva trounced IM Aung Aung of Myanmar.
