Severino outwits Cuban foe
MANILA, Philippines — FIDE Master Sander Severino smashed Cuban Karla Marrero’s Nimzo-Indian Defense in 51 moves to lead two other Filipinos in the 47-player lead pack after two rounds of the online fourth World Chess Championship Saturday.
The 36-year-old Severino, last year’s world champion for the physically disabled, gained the positional edge right in the opening phase that he translated to a pawn advantage and eventually to his second straight win.
Fellow ASEAN and Asian Games veterans Jasper Rom and Rodolfo Sarmiento joined Severino in the lead group after trouncing Poland’s Zuzanna Lukasik and India’s Kumar Naveen, respectively.
Severino was trying to keep his grip on the lead against Morocco’s Jamal Messala in the third round at press time in this nine-round event that drew 249 participants from 40 nations.
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