Grandmaster Mark Paragua posted back-to-back wins and grabbed the solo lead in the PSC International Chess Championship at Ninoy Aquino Stadium, Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.
Paragua downed Mongolian Fide Master Gombosuren Munkhgal in the fourth round Wednesday and then subdued fellow Olympian GM Darwin Laylo in the fifth round yesterday to climb to a perfect 5.0 points in the nine-round event.
Pangasinan pride Haridas Pascua bested fellow FM Randy Segarra to score 4.5 points for solo second place in the 70-player field.
Top seed Russian GM Aleksandr Rakhmanov dumped Edsel Montoya to forge a four-way tie for third place at 4.0 points.
Tied with Rakhmanov are Mongolian GM elect Bayarsaikhan Gundavaa, International Master Rolando Nolte and FM Hamed Nouri.
Gundaava beat NM Rustum Tolentino; Nolte tamed FM David Elorta; and Nouri shocked GM John Paul Gomez.
Lodged at 3.5 points were Laylo, Segarra, Montoya, GMs Oliver Barbosa and Rogelio Antonio Jr., IM Barlo Nadera and FM Munkhgal Gombosuren.
Barbosa, already qualified for this year’s World Cup, drew with Nadera. Antonio and Gombosuren also split the point.
In the sixth round late Thursday, Paragua tackles Pascua; Nolte battles Rakhmanov; while Gundavaa faces Nouri.