Four Pinoys share Zonals lead

Four Filipinos hurdled their first-round rivals to share the lead with foreign bets in the Asian Zonals 3.3 Chess Championships late Saturday at Tagaytay City Convention Center.

Grandmasters Rogelio Antonio Jr. and Rogelio Barcenilla Jr., International Master Paulo Bersamina and Fide Master Adrian Pacis matched the victories of Indonesian GM Susanto Megaranto, Vietnamese Fide Master Nguyen Anh Khou, Malaysian FM Yeoh Li Tian and Singaporean FM Liu Xiangyi.

Antonio bested IMChito Garma; Bersamina subdued Raul Sol Cruz; Pacis upset IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia; while Barcenilla won by forfeiture over Kyle Sevillano.

Megaranto tamed compatriot FM Putra Andyka; Nguyen whipped FM Jodi Setyaki of Indonesia; Tian trounced John Marvin Miciano; while Xiangyi bested John Merill Jacutina.

IM Oliver Dimakiling drew with Vietnamese GM Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son in the event hosted by Tagaytay City through Cavite Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino. —ROY LUARCA