Gomez keeps piece of lead

MANILA, Philippines — Filipino Grandmaster John Paul Gomez halved the point with Indonesian GM Susanto Megaranto to stay on top alongside Mongolian FIDE Master Urtnasan Nasanjargal and Vietnamese International Master Nguyen Van Huy after five rounds of the Eastern Asia Chess Championships FIDE Zone 3.3 Open in Mongolia Thursday night.

The 32-year-old Gomez hiked his total to four points, the same output of Nasanjargal, who drew with compatriot GM Bayarsaikhan Gundavaa, and Nguyen, who turned back FM Tsedvee Lkhagvasuren of Mongolia.

Gomez was playing Mongolian IM Sumiya Bilguun in the sixth round at press time in this nine-round tournament staking two slots to the Chess World Cup 2019 set Sept. 9 to Oct. 2 in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia.

Nasanjargal and Nguyen were paired in the sixth round.

IMs John Marvin Miciano and Paulo Bersamina split the point with top seed GM Tran Tuan Minh of Vietnam and FM Ganzorig Amartuvshin of Mongolia, respectively, to remain in contention.

Through five rounds, both Miciano and Bersamina had three points each and in a 13-player logjam at 11th spot.

In women’s play, WFM Shania Mae Mendoza crushed Mongolia’s Davaakuu Munkhzul to barge into the top 10.

Mendoza was bunched in a seven-player logjam at eighth spot with three points and would try to climb up the ladder as she was tangling with WGM Nguyen Thi Thanh An of Vietnam at press time.

WGM Janelle Mae Frayan absorbed her first defeat after four straight draws as she succumbed to lower-ranked Tumurbaatar Nomindalai of Mongolia and slipped to a share of 25th place with just two points to show.