Pascua stays in joint PSC Chess Cup lead

MANILA, Philippines - Fide Master Haridas Pascua drew with GM-elect Bayarsaikhan Gundavaa of Mongolia to remain tied with GM Mark Paragua after seven rounds of the Philippine Sports Commission Cup International Chess Championships at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium yesterday.

Pascua, who shocked Paragua in the sixth round to gain a share of the lead, held his ground against the fourth-seeded Gundavaa to stay unbeaten with six points on five wins and two draws.

Paragua bounced back from that setback with a big victory over second seed GM Oliver Barbosa to remain in the title hunt heading to the last two rounds of the $30,000 Smart-sponsored tournament hosted by the Philippine Sports Commission headed by chair Ricardo Garcia and organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) led by chairman/president Butch Pichay, sec-gen and Tagaytay City Mayor Bambol Tolentino Jr. and executive director Jayson Gonzales.

GM Richard Bitoon defeated IM Rolando Nolte to improve to 5.5 points in a tie with Gundavaa in the event backed by Puregold, Manila Pavilion Hotel, City State Tower Hotel and Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Peping Cojuangco.

GM Joey Antonio subdued FM Gombosuren Munkhgal to notch his fifth point for a share of fifth with five others.

They include top seed Super GM Aleksandr Rakhmanov of Russia, GM John Paul Gomez, GM Darwin Laylo, FM Hamed Nouri and Munkhgal.