Gomez climbs to joint second in Asian chess; So wins

MANILA, Philippines - Grandmaster John Paul Gomez bounced back into contention with a big win over Chinese GM Zhou Jianchao as he moved to joint second in the fifth round of the Asian Continental Individual Chess Championships in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam yesterday.

Gomez now has four points in a tie with GM Ding Liren and IM Liu Qingnan of China, GM Parimarjan Negi of India and GM Salem A R Saleh of UAE.

Ding split the point with Liu, Negi defeated GM Susanto Megaranto of Indonesia, and Saleh outclassed GM Le Quang Liem of Vietnam.

GM Yu Yangyi of China toppled Oliver Barbosa for the solo lead with 4.5 points.

Mark Paragua edged IM Nezad Husein Aziz of Qatar to join Barbosa at seventh with 3.5 points.

After four straight draws, Wesley So beat GM Deepan Chakkravarthy of India for three points.