IM Garcia keeps Asean chess lead

Filipino International Master Jan Emmanuel Garcia downed countryman GM Darwin Laylo in the eighth round Sunday night and retained top spot in the Japfa Asean Chess Championship in Jakarta.

Garcia, a Management Information Systems student of Ateneo de Manila University, raised his total to 5.5 points, half point ahead of Malaysian Fide Master Li Tian Yeoh, who trounced Theolifus Taher Yoseph of Indonesia in the Open division.

The 20-year-old Garcia, UAAP board 1 gold medalist, is battling Yoseph in the ninth round going on at press time, needing a win to fortify his title bid in the 11-round tournament.

Also in title contention are FM Anh Khoi Nguyen of Vietnam, IM Winshand Cuhendi Sean of Indonesia, GM Dao Thien Hai of Vietnam and IM Paulo Bersamina of the Philippines; all with 4.5 points.

Bersamina toppled IM Zaw Htun Wynn of Burma (Myanmar), Sean bested IM Van Huy Nguyen of Vietnam and Dao drew with Anh Khoi.

Vietnamese WGM Thi Mai Hung Nguyen paced the Women’s division with 7.0 points following a victory over Filipino WFM Shania Mae Mendoza in the eighth round.

Mendoza stayed at 6.0 points, where she was joined by compatriot WIM Janelle Mae Frayna, who tamed WFM Hisham Nur Najiha Azman of Malaysia.

Another Filipino, WIM Bernadette Galas, lost to WIM Thi Nhu Y Hoang and crashed out of contention with 4.0 points. Roy Luarca