Antonio foils Vietnamese GM, claims share of lead

SUBIC, Philippines – GM Rogelio Antonio Jr. made short work of 10th seed GM Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son of Vietnam to force a four-way tie for the lead after the eighth round of the 2009 Asian Chess Championships at the Subic Exhibition and Convention Center here last night.

Antonio, a mainstay of Philippine Army HHSG, lured Nguyen into the line of his pet Caro Kann defense and essayed the victory in 36 moves.

The resounding win gave the 47-year-old Calapan, Oriental Mindoro native six points as he joined three others in the lead heading to the last three rounds of the event organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) in cooperation with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA).

GM Wesley So, meanwhile, drew with Yu Yangyi of China in 40 moves of Sicilian, his fourth in the last five rounds.

“I’m satisfied with my performance right now. I like my chances now with only three rounds left,” said Antonio.

Other six pointers are No. 9 GM Hou Yifan of China, No. 5 GM Surya Shekhar Ganguly of India and No. 16 GM Chanda Sandipan of India.

Yifan trounced GM Dao Thien Hai of Vietnam in 32 moves of the King’s Indian while Ganguly split the point with Sandipan in 32 moves of the Gruenfeld.

GM Abhijit Kunte of India upset compatriot No. 7 seed Negi Parimarjan to lead a big group of players with 4.5 points.

Aside from the total prize fund of $50,000, the event also offers 10 slots in the World Chess Cup slated Nov. 20-Dec. 15 in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia.