Bersamina, Indian IM share lead in Asian Jrs

MANILA, Philippines - Fide Master Paulo Bersamina swept his first two matches, including a 31-move win over Marc Christian Nazario to share the lead with defending champion IM Srinath Narayanan of India in the Asian Juniors and Girls Chess Championships at the Tagaytay International Convention Center in Tagaytay yesterday.

Bersamina outplayed Nazario in the early going of their Queen’s Pawn Opening encounter then went on to post the victory to join Narayanan in the early lead in the Open division of the tournament for players 20 years and below.

The top-seeded Narayanan, boasting of a rating of 2461, subdued FM Sumiya Biguun.

Second seed IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia settled for a draw with Haque Siam Ikramul of Bangladesh and stood in joint third with 1.5 points with Nepalese Bibek Thing, who drew with Daryl Unix Samantila, and Ikramul.

John Merill Jacutina and Istraelito Rillorza rebounded from opening round setbacks with victories over Alzarovni of United Arab Emirates and Renz Marvin Santos, respectively, to join UAE’s Al Rashedi Mayed, who beat Guam’s Radcliffe Paras, at sixth.

In girls’ play, Kazakh WFM Sholpan Zhylkaidarova downed WFM Marie Antoinette San Diego to share the top spot with Indian WFM Rucha Pujari, who beat WFM Shania Mae Mendoza, with two points apiece.

Top seed WIM Maria Furtado of India beat Jerly Mae San Diego to improve to 1.5 points in a tie with compatriots PV Nandhidhaa and J Saranya, who drew their match.

The San Diego siblings were stalled at one point in a tie with Mendoza, Indian Joshi Supriya, WFM Mozah Al-Moaamari of the UAE, Karen Mariano and Gladys Hazelle Romero.

Mariano, an entry of Tagaytay City, defeated Bina Jaiswal of Nepal.