John Paul Gomez shares lead with Mongolian

MANILA, Philippines — Filipino Grandmaster John Paul Gomez bested countryman International Master Paulo Bersamina to seize a share of the lead with Mongolia FIDE Master Urtnasan Nasanjargal after three rounds of the Eastern Asia Championship FIDE Zone 3.3 Open in Mongolia Tuesday night.

It was the third straight point for Gomez after earlier wins over another Philippine bet IM John Marvin Miciano and Mongolian GM Bazar Khatanbaatar.

Gomez and Nasanjargal, who trounced compatriot Badrakh Galmandakh, were playing in the fourth round at press time.

Bersamina, who stunned second seed GM Tsegmed Batchuluun of Mongolia the previous day, slipped to a 13-player group at sixth spot with two points to show. He was looking to bounce back as he was tackling Galmandakh in the fourth round.

In the women’s section, WGM Janelle Mae Frayna settled for her third straight draw with Mongolia’s Erdenebayar Margadgua to remain in the middle of the pack with 1.5 points.

WFM Shania Mae Mendoza halved the point with Mongolia’s Davaankhi Amina to remain stranded with just a point to show.

The winners will book berths to the World Cup late this year.

In Bangkok, Thailand, GM Bong Villamayor, a Filipino representing Singapore, waylaid WIM Saheli Dhar-Barua to zoom to a 13-play logjam at fourth with 3.5 points while untitled Winston Joseph Silva, a Bagkok-based Filipino, drew with Indonesian WFM Sahajasri Cholleti to remain in the 33-player tie at 17th place.

In Dubai, IM Daniel Quizon split the point with India’s WIM Deshmukh Divya to emerge the highest-place Filipino at 29th spot with 5.5 points.