Vietnamese GMs hold sway

Vietnam Grandmasters Dao Thien Hai and Nguyen Anh Dung firmed up their bid for stints in the World Championship as they downed their respective rivals in the seventh round of the Asian Zone 3.2 a Championships yesterday at the Grand Boulevard Hotel.

The second-ranked Dao turned back compatriot Nguyan Thanh Son in 50 moves of a Sicilian defense, while Nguyen whipped RP’s GM Rogelio Antonio, Jr. in 31 moves of a Caro-Kann to share the lead with 5.5 points apiece.

Top seed Indon GM Utut Adianto stayed within striking distance of the leaders as he toppled GM Eugene Torre in 29 moves of an English Game for his fifth point.

GM Buenaventura Villamayor, a World Championship veteran, likewise remained in contention with 4.5 points after trouncing IM Mark Paragua in 35 moves of a Queen’s Pawn Opening.

The top two finishers advance to the World Championship.

Nguyen Thanh Son and Antonio slid to fourth with four points along with Jayson Gonzales, Denny Juswanto of Indonesia, NM Yves Rañola and NM Idelfonso Datu. — Joey Villar