Antonio pulls off crucial victory, wrests solo lead

SUBIC, Philippines – GM Rogelio Antonio Jr. vaulted into the lead in the Asian Continental individual chess championship with a crucial victory over GM Le Quang Liem of Vietnam in the ninth round at the Subic Exhibition and Convention Center late Thursday here.

Antonio, 47, continued to flash top form, disposing of his sixth seeded Vietnamese rival in 59 moves of a Sicilian and seizing the solo lead with seven points heading to the last two rounds of the tournament.

It was Antonio’s fourth win the last five rounds, giving the Filipino bet a half-point lead over GMs Chanda Sandipan and Surya Shekhar Ganguly of India and GMs Hou Yifan and Zhou Weiqi of China.

Sandipan drew with Hou, while Ganguly and Zhou halved the point in 39 moves of the Sicilian.

GM Wesley So also bounced back after a series of draw, downing GM Elshan Moradiabadi of Iran in 33 moves of the Ruy Lopez to hike his total to six points.

GM Eugene Torre settled for a draw with GM Saidali Iuldachev of Uzbekistan for 5.5 points.

Three other Filipinos – IM Richard Bitoon, GM Darwin Laylo and IM Rolando Nolte – won their matches but stood too far behind Antonio with five points.