MANILA, Philippines—The winning run of International Master John Paul Gomez and Grandmaster Wesley So stretched to the ninth round of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines qualifying tournament at the Kaban ng Hiyas Bldg. in Mandaluyong City.

Gomez trounced GM Buenaventura “Bong” Villamayor in 32 moves of the Pirc while So humbled IM Barlo Nadera in 32 moves of the French Defense to keep their 1-2 positions in the tournament being held to determine the country’s bets to the Chess Olympiad in Dresden, Germany, and the World Mind Games in Beijing, China.

His fifth straight win gave the 22-year-old Gomez, a three-time national junior champion, 8.5 points out of a perfect nine as he kept a two-point lead over So with eight rounds to go.

The 14-year-old So, the highest-rated Filipino with an ELO of 2577, clustered four wins after a fifth-round setback to fellow GM Darwin Laylo.

Villamayor, winner of last month’s Palawan Open, dropped to a share of third to fourth places with IM Chito Garma, who trounced NM Edmundo Gatus in 35 moves of the Scotch, at 6.0 points.

Subic Open champion GM Jayson Gonzales drew with IM Rolando Nolte in 32 moves of the Closed Ruy Lopez to rise to 5.0 points in the company of Laylo, IM Ronald Bancod and NM Leonardo Carlos.

Laylo halved the point with NM Jerry Nodado in 26 moves of the Queen’s Indian while Bancod and Carlos drew after 31 moves of the Petroff.

Marshall Open champion GM Mark Paragua notched his third straight win at the expense of NM Noel de la Cruz to climb to 4.5 points.

IM Julio Catalino Sadorra also streaked to his third victory, outplaying NM Jony Habla in 40 moves of the Slav to join Nolte and Nodado with 4.0 points.

In women’s play, Daisy Rivera dumped Rida Jane Young in 28 moves of a Pirc to share the lead with Sherila Cua, Cristy Bernales and Catherine Perena. They have 4.0 points each after six rounds.