Antonio, So settle for draws

SUBIC, Philippines – GMs Rogelio Antonio Jr. and Wesley So played to a pair of draws against their respective foreign opponents to remain within striking distance of the leaders in the seventh round of the Asian Continental individual chess championship at the Subic Exhibition and Convention Center here Tuesday.

Antonio halved the point with GM Elshan Moradiabadi of Iran while So split the point with IM Mohammad Al Sayed of Qatar as they stayed in the hunt not only for the crown but also for the berths in this year’s World Cup.

Antonio, who won his fifth and sixth round matches to move into contention, drew with Moradiabadi in only 30 moves in a rook and pawn endgame of a Sicilian to raise his total to five points.

“It’s a draw. I didn’t force the issue because Moradiabadi is also a solid player,” said the 28th-seeded Antonio.

So tried to salvage a win against Al Sayed but eventually settled for a draw in 36 moves of a Philidor.

The 15-year-old Filipino champion forced an exchange of pieces beginning on the 12th move and launched a kingside attack with his queen and knight nine moves later. But Al Sayed wisely fended off the attack by exchanging his bishop for the Filipino’s knight on the 23rd move.

So remained in joint ninth with three others with four points.

Meanwhile, GM Surya Shakhar Ganguly of India outduelled GM Le Quang Liem of Vietnam to gain a share of the lead with compatriot GM Chanda Sandipan.

Sandipan and GM Dao Thien Hai of Vietnam drew their match after 46 moves.

Joining Antonio in third are No. 9 seed GM Hou Yifan of China, who outclassed IM Homayoon Toufighi of Iran in 42 moves of the French; and Ding Liren of China, who whipped GM Enamul Hossain of Bangladesh in 43 moves of the Slav.

GM Darwin Lalyo outplayed IM Jayaram Ashwin of United Arab Emirates to keep his slim hopes with four points.