Manila, Philippines - Asian Youth bronze medalist Marie Antoinette San Diego held WFM Dita Karenza of Indonesia to a draw in the fifth round then defeated Samantha Glo Revita to remain on top in the ASEAN + age-group standard chess tournament in Tarakan, Indonesia yesterday.
San Diego thus improved to 5.5 points, hiking her lead to one full point over seventh seed Vindy Chandra in the girls 12 years old and under category.
Revita, who crushed Fahada Azhar of Malaysia, and four others had four points.
Also staying in the title hunt in other divisions are Richelieu Salcedo of Cagayan de Oro (boys 20 under), Dave Patrick Dulay of Vigan, Ilocos Sur and Paul Robert Evangelista (boys 16 under), Janelle Mae Frayna (girls 16 under), Shania Me Mendoza of Laguna (girls 14 under), Daryl Unix Samantila of Malabon and Tristan Fech Ibaoc (boys 12 under); Julius Gonzales of Marikina (boys 10 under); Lorraine Yngayo and Jesca Docena (girls 10 under), Ronald Canino (boys 8 under); and Jerlyn Mae San Diego, Mary Sol Quitong and Irish Yngayo (girls 8 under).
Salcedo swept Dang The Nam and Huynh Lam Binh Nguyen to move into a tie for third with four points in the boys’ 20 under category.
Reigning national junior champion Mari Joseph Turqueza trounced Lili Ishak of Indonesia and drew with IM Ton That Nhu of Vietnam, while Lennon Hart Salgados drew with Yusena Acmad of Indonesia and won over Phan Dinh Nhat of Vietnam to keep their hopes alive in sixth with 3.5 points.
Dulay overwhelmed Lu Chia-Hsin of Taiwan, while Evangelista outplayed Limaksono Kaegar of Indonesia to share third to seventh places with 3.5 points in the boys 16 under.