Three RP chessers share lead in Cannes tiff

Filipino grandmaster candidate Ronald Dableo and International Master Joseph Sanchez, who agreed to a friendly draw the other day, resumed their searing drive in the XV Open Cannes International Chess Championships yesterday, hurdling separate opponents to tie compatriot Mark Paragua and three others in the lead after the seventh round.

Dableo, the reigning Asian Zonal champion, repulsed Bulgarian IM Oghjan Todorov while Sanchez smothered Yugoslavian Lijubomir Scala.

These victories place the two in a tie with Paragua, Italian GM Lexy Ortega, Greek GM Igor Miladinovic and Bulgarian Dimitar Marholev in the lead with two rounds left in the Swiss system tourney.

"Dalawang round na lang, sana magtuloy-tuloy kami," said the 24-year-old Dableo.

"Ang hirap umiskor. Pero pipilitin naming umiskor pa para sa atin mapunta ang championship," said Sanchez.

Paragua blew away a chance to gain the solo lead as he settled for a draw with Ortega on the top board.

"Kailangan pumukpok kami sa natitirang dalawang round dahil must-win na ito," said Paragua, the 1998 World Youth under-14 champion.

Paragua, Ortega, Sanchez, Dableo, Miladinovic and Marholev had 5.5 points apiece in the 128-strong tournament.

In the penultimate round, Sanchez plays with the white pieces against Miladinovic on board 1, Paragua also with white against Marholev on board 2 and Dableo with the black pieces against Ortega on board 3.