MANILA, Philippines - Richard Bitoon defeated fellow IM Yves Ranola in the seventh round to share the lead with four others with two rounds left in the Gov. Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza Mindanao Open Chess Championship in Amas, Kidapawan City last Tuesday.
The win hiked Bitoon’s total to six as he joined GM John Paul Gomez, GM Roland Salvador, GM Darwin Laylo, and IM Oliver Dimakiling in the lead.
Gomez crushed local bet NM Reggie Olay, while Laylo outclassed Jayson Salubre. Salvador downed NM Macanana Macala while Dimakiling defeated Jhonnel Balquin.
NM Ernesto Fernandez and Eliaz Banguiran pulled off a pair of upset wins over IM Kim Steven Yap and FM Randy Segarra, respectively. Fernandez and Banguiran are tied in sixth with 5.5 points Bitoon and Gomez clash in the penultimate round.