TOP seed International Master Saha Neelash of India and compatriot IM Harshavardhan GB drew their fifth-round match yesterday to remain tied for the lead with a Mongolian player in the Asian Juniors Chess Championship in Tagaytay.
Mongolian Sugar Gan-Erdene also drew his match with Chatherjee Utsab of India and improved his total to 4.0 points in a tie with his Indian rivals.
Eric Labog Jr. of the Philippines beat IM Raahul of India to inch closer to the leaders with 3.5 points in a tie with Ramadhan Dziththauly of Indonesia, FM Daniyal Sapenov of Kazakstan, and Chatherjee Utsab.
Filipino IM Daniel Quizon beat Mar Aviel Carredo to remain within striking distance with 3.0 points in the company of fellow Filipinos IM Michael Concio Jr. and Mark Christian Daluz, IM Ramesh Avinash of India, FM Arman Hakemi of Iran, Dau Khuong Duy of Vietnam, and Fernanda Agus Saputra of Indonesia.
In the distaff side, Woman International Master Bach Ngoc Thuy Duong of Vietnam defeated WIM Nazerke Nurgali of Kazakhstan to grab the solo lead with 4.5 points.
Top seed WIM Assel Serikbay of Kazakhstan beat WIM Ravi Rakshitta of India to improve to 4.0 points in a tie with WFM Mitra Asgharzadeh of Iran, who beat WFM Anahita Zahedifar.
Sharing fourth to fifth place were Indians WIM Rakshitta and Femil Chelladurai with 3.5 points.
Filipinos Mary Tan Joy and Marian Calimbo share sixth to eighth places with WIM Nazerke Nurgali of Kazakhstan with 3.0 points apiece.
The tournament, organized by the National Chess federation of the Philippines on behalf of the Asian Chess Federation and hosted by the City of Tagaytay, is being held from October 17 — 25 at the Knights Templar Hotel in Tagaytay City.
