MANILA, Philippines - Indian International Master Srinath Narayanan continued to dish out top form as it trounced Istraelito Rilloraza in the fifth round to pull away from the field in the 2014 Asian Juniors and Girls’ Chess Championships at Tagaytay International Convention Center late Monday in Tagaytay.
Narayanan’s knight was sure to fork Rilloraza’s queen and rook, forcing the FEU high school sophomore to resign and hiking the defending champion’s total to 4.5 points halfway through the nine-round championship.
That was one-point ahead of Fide Master Paulo Bersamina, who fought it out with IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia but failed to gain any headway and agreed to split the point, enabling Narayanan to post a big cushion heading to the last four rounds of the annual event players 20 years and under.
Another Filipino challenger, however, emerged in Malabon’s Daryl Unix Samantila, who subdued Bangladeshi Haque Siam Israel to catch up with Bersamina and Mongolian FM Sumiya Bilguun at 3.5 points.
Bilguun beat John Merill Jacutina to overtake Garcia, who has three points.
In girls’ section, fancied WIM Furtado Ivana Maria of India bested compatriot WFM Rucha Pujari to tie WFM Sholpan Zhylkaidarova of Kazakhstan in the lead with four points.
Zhykaidarova was held to a draw by Joshi Supriya of India.
Local bet Mikee Charlene Suede vaulted into contention as she dismantled Indian WFM Rucha Pujari, improving to 3.5 points with her third straight win.
WFM Marie Antoinette San Diego and younger sister Jerlyn Mae defeated Gladys Hazelle Romero and Karen Mariano, respectively, to likewise gain in the standings with three points.
Narayanan was shooting for another victory against Filipino Candidate Master Marc Christian Nazario, with just 2.5 points, at presstime.
Another pivotal match pits Bersamina against Samantila, the UAAP Season 76 junior MVP, with the winner staying in contention for the crown and the automatic IM title that goes with it.
Ivana Maria and Zhylkaidarova were disputing the solo lead in the distaff side of the tournament hosted by Cavite Rep. Abraham Tolentino, the World Chess Federation (Fide) secretary general.