So solo leader in Asian zonal

MANILA, Philippines - Individual Standings after Round 5 (Philippines unless stated):

So 4.5; Truong Son (Vie) 4.0; Megaranto (Ina), Munkhgal (Mgl), Laylo, Antonio, Doc Hoa (Vie) 3.5; Pascua, Barcenilla, Gundavaa (Mgl),Tuan Minh (Vie), Nadera, Gomez, Bitoon, Turqueza, Cao Sang (Vie), Van Huy (Vie) 3.0; Torre, Yu, Sarip, Bersamina, Thien Hai (Vie), Tolentino 2.5.

Wesley So defeated International Master Bayarsaikhan Gundavaa of Mongolia and claimed the solo lead after co-leader Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son of Vietnam halved the point in the fifth round of the Asian Zone 3.3 Chess Championship at the Tagaytay International Convention Center Friday.

The 19-year-old So had 4.5 points after five rounds of the nine-round Swiss system event which offers two slots for the World Cup in Norway.

He stayed alone at the top after Truong Son halved the point with Darwin Laylo.

Sharing third to eighth places with 3.5 points each are Laylo, defending champion Susanto Megaranto of Indonesia, Gombosuren Munkhgal of Mongolia, 12-time national open champion Rogelio Antonio Jr. and Nguyen Doc Hoa of Vietnam.

Megaranto settled for a draw with Doc Hoa, Munkhgal upset GM Dao Thien Hai of Vietnam and Antonio edged countryman FM Haridas Pascua.

In other matches, GM Mark Paragua bested countryman Eugene Torre, GM John Paul Gomez subdued FM Rudin Hamdani of Indonesia, US-based Rogelio Barcenilla Jr. routed Ravdanlkhumbuu Amgalanbaatar of Mongolia and FM Mari Joseph Turqueza shocked IM Rolando Nolte.

In the distaff side, Nguyen Thi Thanh An defeated fellow Vietnamese Woman Grandmaster Nguyen Pham Le Thao to stay on top with 4.5 points.

Filipina Bernadette Galas crushed WFM Ummi Fisabilillah of Indonesia to share fourth-seventh places with Pham, WGM Hoang Thi Bao Tram and WIM Nguyen Thi Mai Hung of Vietnam.

Other Pinay bets – WFM Rulp Ylem Jose, WFM Marie Antoinette San Diego and WIM Catherine Perena – tallied 2.0 points each for 10th-14th places while Mary Grace Tambasen was at the cellar with no point to show.