Gomez joins 3 other Pinoys in chess helm

MANILA, Philippines - GM John Paul Gomez trounced IM Wang Li of China to join three other Filipino players in the lead after two rounds of the HD Bank Cup Open chess championship at the Rex Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam yesterday.

Gomez played almost flawlessly with the white to subdue the 27th-seeded Wang for his second straight victory in the six-day tournament which attracted 74 players from nine countries.

Also posting their second wins are GM Darwin Laylo, who whipped compatriot Haridas Pascua, and IMs Richard Bitoon, who crushed IM Khoa Bao of Vietnam, and Oliver Dimakiling, who dumped WFM Ton Nu Hong, also of Vietnam.

Joining them at the helm are top seed GM Le Quang Liem of Vietnam, GMs Zhao Weiqi and Zhao Jun of China, WIM Nguyen Thi Mai Hung of Vietnam, FN Nguyen Duc Hoa of Vietnam, and IM Nguyen Thanh Son of Vietnam.

Le, the highest-rated player here with a 2664 rating, outclassed IM Lou Yiping of China to lead the bid of the 30-player Vietnamese side.

Zhao Weiqi downed Filipino IM Kim Steven Yap, while Zhao Jun overwhelmed countryman Liu Shanglei.

GM Roland Salvador and IM Oliver Barbosa, however, were stalled by draws against their lower-rated opponents.

Salvador split the point with FM Pham Chuong of Vietnam while Barbosa halved the point with IM Thu Hoang Thai of Vietnam.