Garcia rips foe, nears Asean chess crown

MANILA, Philippines – International Master Jan Emmanuel Garcia salvaged a draw with IM Ali Muhammad Lufti to stay in front as competitors brace for the final push in the third Japfa Asean Chess Championships in Indonesia.

Ateneo standout Garcia, who was playing white, survived the onslaught of his Indon rival and managed to split the point in a one-pawn-down endgame of their 10th round Grundfeld Defense encounter Tuesday night.

With 6.5 points, Garcia enjoyed a half-point lead against Vietnamese FM Nguyen Anh Khoi (6) and GM Dao Thien Hai (6) entering the last round.

Garcia was slated to face compatriot IM Paulo Bersamina in last night’s 11th round seeking to get a good result to cop the Open title.

Bersamina, who drew with 15-year-old Malaysian FM Yeo Li Tian in the 10th, ranked fifth with 5.5 markers.

GM Darwin Laylo occupied 11th with four points after losing to Yeoseph Theolifus Taher on Tuesday.

In the women’s division, WIM Janelle Mae Frayna and WFM Shania Mae Mendoza shared the spoils in an all-Pinay encounter.

Frayna hiked her tally to 7.5 markers, a full point behind Vietnamese Nguyen Thi Mai Hung, who has virtually placed a lock on the women’s crown with 8.5 markers with one round to spare.

For her part, Mendoza improved to seven points for solo third, securing her last WIM norm along the way.

The 18-year-old Frayna was paired with Indon WIM Chelsie Monica Ignesia Shihite in the last round while Mendoza got compatriot WIM Bernadette Galas for her last opponent. Galas, who defeated Indon WFM Dita Karenza in Round 10, occupied sixth with 6 points.