So draws with Indon GM, shares lead with Viet

Standings (Philippines unless stated)

Men’s: Truong Son (Vie), So, 5.0, Antonio 4.5, Megaranto (Ina), Gundavaa (Mgl), Laylo, Duc Hoa (Vie), Cao Sang (Vie) 4.0, Paragua, Torre, Pascua, Barcenilla, Munkhgal (Mgl), Tuan Minh (Vie), Thien Hai (Vie), Gomez, Bitoon, Van Huy (Vie)3.5.

Women’s: Thi Thanh An (Vie) 5.0, Galas,  Medina (Ina), Batkhuyag (Mgl) 4.0, Thi Bao Tram (Vie), Thi Mai Hung (Vie) 3.5.

MANILA, Philippines - Top-ranked Wesley So settled for another draw and was joined at the lead by second seed Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son of Vietnam as contenders fought for crucial wins in the sixth round of the Asian Zone 3.3 Championships yesterday at the Tagaytay International Convention Center.

So, 19,  agreed to a standoff with defending champion Susanto Megaranto of Indonesia after 51 moves of the Slav defense.

“It’s difficult to force the issue because the situation was drawish and was leading us nowhere but a fighting draw,” said So, who is taking a break from his studies at Webster University in the US to compete in the tournament, which also serves as qualifying tournament for the World Cup slated in Norway this year.

Two slots are at stake in the tournament, with the first of three berths already awarded to Oliver Barbosa who ruled an international tournament recently.

In the other main game, Ngoc Truong Son demolished Filipino Mark Paragua in only 28 moves of the Gruenfeld defense to keep a share of the lead with So on identical 5.0 points.

Ageless Joey Antonio defeated FM Gombosuren Munkhgal of Mongolia after 58 moves of a Nimzo-Indian defense to climb to solo third with 4.5 points.

Megaranto, meantime, scored 4.0 points, the same output of IM Bayarsaikhan Gundavaa, Darwin Laylo and Vietnamese Cao Sang and Nguyen Duc Hoa.

Gundavaa nipped Barlo Nadera after 47 moves of the French defense, Laylo halved the point with Duc Hoa after 43 moves of a Gruenfeld while Cao edged Mari Joseph Turqueza after 19 moves of a Queen’s Pawn Game.

Seventh round pairings pit Antonio against Ngoc Truong Son, So against Duc Hoa, Laylo opposite Megaranto and Gundavaa versus Cao.

In women’s play, WGM Nguyen Thi Thanh An of Vietnam settled for a truce with WIM Medina Warda Aulia of Indonesia to keep the lead with 5.0 points. Her sixth round opponent is Filipina Bernadette Galas who upset WGM Pham Le Thao Nguyen of Vietnam to climb to a share of second-fourth places at four points with Medina and Munguntuul Batkhuyag of Mongolia.

The other Filipina campaigners were WIM Catherine Perena (3.0 points), WFM Rulp Ylem Jose (2.0 points), WFM Marie Antoinette San Diego (2.0 points) and Mary Grace Tambasen (half point).