Haridas Pascua draws anew in Asian Continental Chess

MANILA, Philippines — International Master Haridas Pascua drew with IM Novendra Priasmoro after two rounds of the seventh Asian Continental Chess Championships (second Manny Pacquiao Cup) at the Tiara Hotel in Makati Tuesday night.

A day after coming close to bringing down fourth seed GM Santosh Gujrathi Vidit of India before settling for a draw in the opening round Monday, Pascua, 25, went for the win again but managed just a split against Priasmoro, who owns a higher FIDE rating of 2483 against his 2442.

Pascua had one point in a tie with  23 others at 22nd place, or a full point behind an 11-player lead pack headed by second seed GM Wei Yi of China, who downed compatriot IM Xu Yi.

IM Paulo Bersamina succumbed to GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov of Uzbekistan. The 20-year-old Bersamina, a two-time Olympiad veteran, grabbed the spotlight on Day One after he shocked third pick and former world blitz champion GM Le Quang Liem.

Other Filipinos in that same group were IMs Oliver Dimakiling, Jan Emmanuel Garcia, Daniel Quizon, Roderick Nava and Ricky de Guzman and untitled Michael Concio Jr.

Woman FIDE Master Shania Mae Mendoza drew with WFM Aay Aisyah Anisa of Indonesia to spearhead the country’s campaign with a point after two rounds in the women’s section.

Also with a point were WFM Allaney Jia Doroy, WIM Bernadette Galas and WIM Kylen Joy Mordido.

A half point farther down was WGM Janelle Mae Frayna, the country’s brightest hope, who lost to WIM P V Nandhidhaa of India.