Wong draws with Bitoon, stays on top

MANILA, Philippines - Standings after five rounds: (RP unless stated)

4.5 - M.K. Wong (Singapore)

4 - N.T., Nguyen (Vietnam), T. Kotanjian (Atmenia), R., Bitoon

3.5 - A. Filippov (Uzbekistan), R. Dableo, M. Mchedlishvili (Georgia), E. Ghaemmaghami (Iran), R., Antonio, J. Gomez, M. Gagunashvili (Georgia), D. Laylo, G. Nayanan (India), T.H., Dao (Vietnam)

International Master Richard Bitoon battled GM Meng Kong Wong of Singapore to a draw in their fifth-round encounter to keep his hopes alive in the fourth President Arroyo Cup international chess championship at the Duty Free Fiesta Mall in Parañaque.

Bitoon, the pride of Medelin, Cebu, drew with Wong with the white pieces to remain in a three-way tie for second to fourth places with GMs Nuyen Ngoc Truong Son of Vietnam and Tigran Kotanjian of Armenia with four points with still four remaining in this tough, nine-round tournament organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP).

Nguyen subdued No. 13 seed GM Anuar Ismagambetov of Kazakhstan while Kotanjian outplayed No. 16 GM Pyotr Kostenko of Kazakshtan to boost their chances for the title and the top prize of $6,000 put up by NCFP president Prospero “Butch” Pichay.

Ten players, led by top seed GM Mikhael Mchedlishvili of Georgia and World Cup-bound GMs Rogelio Antonio Jr. and Darwin Laylo, shared fifth to 14th places with 3.5 points.

Mchedlishvili, the highest-rated player here with an ELO of 2613, bounced back from a stunning fourth-round loss to Bitoon by humbling No. 15 seed GM Mark Paragua.

Antonio and Laylo, who will represent the country in the World Cup scheduled in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia starting Nov. 21, halved the point with compatriot GM John Paul Gomez and GM Anton Filippov of Uzbekistan, respectively.

GM-elect Ronald Dableo, who dropped out of the lead after defaulting his fourth-round match against Wong due to widespread flooding spawned by typhoon “Ondoy”, drew with No. 9 GM Dao Thien Hai of Vietnam to remain in contention with 3.5 points.

Also moving up the standings with 3.5 points are second seed GM Gopal Nayanan of India, who outdueled compatriot GM Das Neelotpal; fifth seed GM Ehsan Ghaemmaghami of Iran, who subdued GM Jayson Gonzales.; and sixth seed GM Merab Gagunashvili of Georgia, who outwitted GM Buenaventura “Bong” Villamayor.

Defending champion GM Eugene Torre settled for his fifth straight draw against FM Leonardo Carlos to remain in the lower half of the 56-player tournament.

Torre, who finished in a three-way tie for first place with GM Li Shilong of China and GM Zhang Zhong of Singapore last year, also drew his first four matches against lower-rated Filipino rivals.

In other notable fifth-round results, little-known Reggie Olay upset IM Tirto of Indonesia, IM Oliver Dimakiling outplayed Edgardo Garma, Randy Segara surprised IM Rolando Nolte, IM Chito Garma whipped Roel Abelgas, Ric Portogalera stopped Efren Bagamasbad, Ali Branzuela beat Nicomedes Aliangco, Voltaire Sevillano edged Richard de la Cruz and Haridas Pasacua beat Glidel Gabica.