Mariano, playing in his first big tournament since becoming the country’s fifth GM last month, launched a solid attack on the kingside then sacrificed a bishop on the 20th move to force his rival to give up a piece to avoid a mating threat. The former Asian junior champion then simplified things up and completed the victory in their Sicilian-Chameleon game.
That hiked Mariano’s score to 3.5 points, the same output put in by Antonio, slightly ahead in position, who missed winning lines against the top-seeded Rogers. The Aussie GM salvaged a perpetual check and a draw after 44 moves of their French game.
Third-ranked Ni Hua of China seized the solo lead with perfect points by beating Woman GM and former world champion Xu Yuhva, declining the draw offer of his compatriot and essaying a 60-move victory of a Sicilian defense.
Joining Mariano and Antonio, whose stint in one of the strongest chess tournaments in the region is sponsored by the First Gentleman Foundation and the Philippine Sports Commission, in second place are Rogers, Vietnam GM Nguyen Anh Dung, Indon IM Juswanto, Indon FM S. Irwanto and Indian IM C. Gokhale.
Two other Filipinos — Oliver Dimakiling and Rolando Yutuc — are also seeing action in the event, which drew 112 players, including 13 GMs, from 17 countries, with both players toting two points apiece after four rounds of action.