John Paul Gomez, Mongolian hold on

MANILA, Philippines — Filipino Grandmaster John Paul Gomez drew and Mongolian FIDE Master Urtnasan Nasanjargal fought to a quick draw to remain on top after four rounds of the Eastern Asia Chess Championships FIDE Zone 3.3 Open in Mongolia Thursday night.

Gomez and Nasanjargal have hiked their total to 3.5 points, or half a point ahead of six other woodpushers with three points, and will take on Indonesian GM Susanto Megaranto and Mongolian Bayarsaikhan Gundavaa, respectively.

Megaranto and Gundavaa split their duel.

In a 10-player logjam at ninth spot with 2.5 points each were two more Phl bets -- IM Paulo Bersamina, who drew with Mongolia’s Badrakj Galmandakh, and IM John Marvin Miciano, who zoomed back to contention by edging Wahyudi Surya.

In women’s play, WGM Janelle Mae Frayna fought to her fourth straight draw this time against WIM Sengervdan Otgonjargal of Mongolia, upping her total to two points, the same output by WFM Shania Mae Mendoza, who downed Namjijv Enkhnasan of Mongolia.