Battle of GMs: Bitoon ties Antonio

Standings after 8 rounds Open Division: 10.0 points—Bitoon, Antonio; 9.0—Pascua; 7.0—Gomez, Turqueza, Docena; 6.0—Laylo , Torre, Bersamina, Abelgas; 5.0—Frayna 5

Standings after 6 rounds Women’s Division: 9.0 points—Fronda, San Diego; 7.0—Perena-Secopito, Mendoza; 6.0—Lozano, Bernales; 5.0—Suede, Enriquez; 4.0—Membrere; 2.0—Pineda

Richard Bitoon tallied a draw and a win to gain a share of the lead with fellow Grandmaster Rogelio “Joey” Antonio in the 2015 Battle of Grandmasters-National Chess Championship Wednesday night at Philippine Sports Commission Athletes’ Dining Hall in Manila.

GM-elect Haridas Pascua matched Bitoon’s output and landed behind the two pacesetters.

Bitoon split the point with Antonio in the seventh round then subdued National Master Roel Abelgas after 61 moves in the eighth to catch up with Antonio, who also agreed to a draw with top seed GM John Paul Gomez in the eighth round, at 10 points under the match point scoring system.

The 22-year-old Pascua, who only needs to boost his Elo rating to 2500 to become a full-fledged GM, climbed to 9 points following a victory over Woman International master Janelle Mae Frayna and a draw with National Master Jerad Docena, respectively.

Gomez, Fide Master Joseph Mari Turqueza, Docena and GM Darwin Laylo ended their matches in the seventh and eighth rounds in draws to emerge tied with seven points each, followed by GM Eugene Torre, IM Paulo Bersamina and Abelgas with six points apiece.

In the women’s side of the tournament organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines and supported by the PSC, Woman Fide Master Marie Antoinette San Diego beat Brena Mae Membrere in 29 moves of a Benoni to tie WIM Jan Jodilyn Fronda at the top with 9 points each.