Indian ace trips Garcia, takes solo lead

MANILA, Philippines - Defending champion Srinath Sarayanan of India dismantled IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia yesterday to grab the solo lead after four rounds of the 2014 Asian Juniors and Girls Championships at Tagaytay International Convention Center in Tagaytay yesterday.

Sarayanan outwitted the second-ranked Garcia at endgame of their Ruy Lopez duel and hacked out a 48-move victory to raise his total to 3.5 points, half a point ahead of Fide Master Paulo Bersamina in the Open division of the tournament for players 20-year old-and-below.

Bersamina, 16, failed to keep in step with the Indian bet as he was held to a draw by Bangladesh’s Haque Siam Ikramul in 62 moves of a Guioco Piano.

Garcia, who beat Nepal’s Bibek Thing in the third round to gain a piece of the lead, dropped to the company of Ikramul, Mongolian FM Sumiya Bilguun and Filipinos Jdaryl Unix Samantila and John Merill Jacutina and Istraelito Rilloraza, who all have 2.5 points.

Bilguun trounced Nepal’s Thing Bibek, Samantila bested Radcliffe Paras of Guam, while Jacutina and Rilloraza drew their match.

Other fourth round results saw Candidate Master Marc Christian Nazario beat Al-Rashedi Mayed of United Arab Emirates to lead the two pointers who include Alzarovni Ahmad of UAE, who subdued Renz Marvin Santos.