Garcia draws with Russian for joint 4th

VUNG TAU, Vietnam – Jan Emmanuel Garcia held his ground against fifth seed FM Andrey Stukopin of Russia to keep his hopes in the boys 14 years old and under category in the eighth round of the World Youth Chess Championships at the Vung Tau Sports Center here Monday.

Garcia, looking supremely confident against higher-rated foreign rivals, halved the point with Stukopin (ELO 2363) with the white pieces to remain in a tie for fourth to seventh places with six points on five wins, two draws and only one loss.

A member of the vaunted Ateneo chess team in the UAAP, Garcia (ELO 2256) is only a full point behind solo leader Gujrathi Vidit of India and half a point behind top seed IM Dariusz Swiercz of Poland and FM Macxime Lagarde of France.

Garcia’s next opponent is third seed FM Daniel Naroditsky of the United States in the pivotal ninth round.

It was also a good day for Vince Angelo Medina, John Ray Batucan and Jerad Docena, who all hurdled their matches in the boys 14 and under category.

Haince Patrick de Leon triumphed in the boys 8 and under class; Jedara Docena won in the girls 16 and under bracket; Cherry Ann Mejia prevailed in the girls 14 and under; Rowelyn Acedo struck in the girls 12 and under; and Samathan Glo Revita, shone in the girls 10 and under.