Gomez gains share of lead but So falls

SUBIC, Philippines – GM John Paul Gomez outplayed IM Jayram Ashwin of India to keep a share of the lead but GM Wesley So fell in a big second round reversal in the Asian Continental individual chess championship at the Subic Exhibition and Convention Center here late Thursday.

Gomez, who beat No. 63 FM K. Priyadharsyhan of India in the first round Wednesday, squeezed himself out of a difficult middle game position with precise moves then pounced on a dubious continuation by his rival to essay a 34-move win in their French game.

With So losing to No. 33 GM Yu Shaoteng of China, Gomez remained the lone Filipino player left in the nine-player lead pack which included four Indians, two Chinese, one Vietnamese and one Iranian.

Top seed GM Krishnan Sasikiran outwitted GM Darwin Laylo while fellow Indian GMs Surya Ganguly, Chanda Sandipan amd Gupta trounced Dronavali Harika, Wan Yunguo of China and GM Bong Villamayor, respectively.