CEDRIC Khalel Abris downed Phil Martin Casiguran in the fifth round over the weekend to seize the solo lead after five rounds of the Philippine National Juniors Chess Championships at the Philippine Chess Academy for Excellence.
From a share of No. 2 with second seed FIDE Master Mark Jay Bacojo in the fourth round, the 17-year-old 12th-grader from La Salle-Greenhills vaulted to the top with 4.5 points after his masterful triumph over Casiguran, the former solo leader.
Abris, who won the gold in the Asean rapid category in Bangkok, Thailand last week and four mints in the Batang Pinoy in Puerto Princesa, Palawan a month ago, was battling Bacojo in the sixth round at press time.
If he stuns Bacojo, who was sharing No. 2 with three others with four points apiece, Abris will inch closer to the top purse of P20,000 and a slot in next year’s World Juniors Championships in Petrovac, Montenegro.
Also in second with four points in the eight-round event backed by the Philippine Sports Commission and National Chess Federation of the Philippines were Bacojo, Casiguran and Mar Aviel Carredo.
In the juniors’ girls’ class, Lexie Grace Hernandez trounced Karol Jozef de Guia to catch up with the latter at the helm with four points each.
In hot pursuit of the co-leaders was a four-player cast of 3.5-pointers – reigning national women’s champion and Olympiad veteran Ruelle Canino, Kayla Lorraine Aurelio, Jersey Marticio and Daren dela Cruz.
