Burmese IM halts So, catches Gonzales at helm

SUBIC – IM Zaw Htun Wynn kept his focus despite the news of devastation that hit Myanmar last week as he outplayed GM Wesley So in their Sicilian encounter to catch Filipino GM Jayson Gonzales at the helm in the sixth round of the Subic Open Iinternational Chess Championship at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center yesterday.

Wynn, 26, fashioned out the stirring win in 48 moves as he tied Gonzales in the lead with five points heading into the last three rounds of the nine-round championship. 

“When images of the news reports about what happened in our homeland enter our head, we can’t think well sometimes,” said Wynn, referring to the cyclone that claimed more than 23,350 lives in the capital of Rangoon.

“Every one (in my) family live in Mandalay. No problem. But the news (of tragedy) is very, very sad,” said Wynn in halting English.

Gonzales settled for his second straight draw against GM Susanto Megaranto of Indonesia in 40 moves of the Slav.

On Tuesday, Wynn trounced IM Richard Bitoon, while Gonzales drew with So.

Top seed GM Yuriy Kuzubov of Ukraine finally made his move, beating NM Rolando Nolte in 39 moves of the Sicilian to vault into a tie for third with Megaranto and IM Tirto of Indonesia with 4.5 points.

 Tirto trounced compatriot Deni Sonjaya to join Kuzubov and Megaranto.

Bitoon whipped Yunguo Wan of China and IM Julio Catalino Sadorra outclassed Efren Bagamasbad to join a big group of players with four points and stay in the hunt for the top prize of $5,000.

So, who drew with Gonzales in the fifth round late Tuesday, remained in contention with four points.

Also in the big group of four pointers are GM Eugene Torre, who halved the point with Dino Ballecer; GM Bong Villamayor, who split the point with Rolando Andador; three-time Palarong Pambansa champion John Paul Gomez, who drew with Oliver Barbosa; NM Emmanuel Senador, who agreed to a truce with IM Oo Kyaw Nay of Myanmar; and untitled Reggie Olay, who held GM Rogelio Antonio Jr. to a draw.