Vietnamese GM gains solo lead in PGMA Cup

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

5.5 points – N. T. Nguyen (Vietnam)

5 – M. Mchedlishvili (Georgia), G. Nayanan (India), A. Filippov (Uzbekistan), M. Gagunashvili (Georgia), T. Kotanjian (Armenia), R. Bitoon , M.K. Wong (Singapore),

4. – E. Ghaemmagami (Iran), R. Antonio, D. Laylo, A. Ismagambentov (Kazakhstan), O. Dimakiling, B. Villamayor, R. Dableo, J. Gomez

Fourth seed GM Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son of Vietnam outduelled erstwhile solo leader GM Meng Kong Wong of Singapore in the sixth round and drew with GM Tigran Kotanjian of Armenia in the following round to assume the solo lead in the fourth President Arroyo Cup international chess championship at the Duty Free Fiesta Mall in Parañaque.

Nguyen, one of only two Vietnamese players in the 56-player field, hiked his score to 5. 5 points on four wins and three draws.

Nguyen is now half a point ahead of top seed GM Michael Mchedlishvili of Georgia and six other players with only two rounds remaining.

Mchedlishvili, the highest-rated player here with an ELO of 2613, halved the point with GM Rogelio Antonio Jr. in the sixth round and beat GM Pyotr Kostenko of Kazakhstan in the seventh round to move into contention for the top prize of $6,000 out of the total prize fund of $40,000 put up by NCFP president/chairman Prospero “Butch” Pichay.

Second seed GM Gopal Nayanan of India, third seed GM Anton Filippov of Uzbekistan and sixth seed GM Merab Gagunashvili of Georgia remained in the title hunt.

Nayanan whipped GM-elect Ronald Dableo, Filippov dumped GM Dao Thien Hai of Vietnam and Gagunashvii crushed GM John Paul Gomez in crucial sixth-round matches.