Bersamina on top

MANILA, Philippines — International Master Paulo Bersamina racked up two straight victories including one against Olympiad teammate Daniel Quizon to seize the solo lead at the start of the Philippine National Open Chess Championship Grand Finals in Alicia, Isabela yesterday.

Those wins catapulted Bersamina to the top with two points in this 11-round event staking not just a ticket to the SEA Games next year but a top purse P120,000 courtesy of host Alicia Mayor Joel Amos Alejandro.