CEBU, Philippines - The battle for supremacy appears to be anybody's game as seven players share the lead after three rounds of action in the Rose Pharmacy Summer Active Chess Classic at the E-Mall Activity Center.
NM Merben Roque, former non-smoker champion Carlos Moreno III, FIDE arbiter Jobannie Tabada, Allan Salientes, Joel Pacuribot, Richard Natividad and Rommel Ganzon are all in contention for the top honors of the two-day contest with a perfect 3.0 points, so far.
Roque, one of the brightest products of Shell Active Chess, upended Erwin Ababat, Moreno tamed Michael Pina, Tabada, who just arrived from Dubai, subdued Eden Diano, while Salientes defeated Leonardo Alidani.
Pacuribot likewise showed some class in nipping Peterson Sia, in the same way with Natividad and Ganzon against Edwel Alesna and Omar Buenaventura, respectively.
The likes of IM Kim Steven Yap, Mario Mangubat, Francisco Abugho, Voltaire Sevillano, Aller Somosot, Manny Manzanares, Mark Mangubat and Leo Cortez also remained unbeaten but are lagged at joint 8 to 15th place with 2.5 points.
Almost a hundred players joined the nine-round Swiss system competition that offers a total of P20,000 in cash prize.
The champion will receive P5,000, while the second to fourth will take home P4,000, P3,000 and P2,000. – EBV (FREEMAN)