International Master Paulo Bersamina and Shania Mae Mendoza continued to ride on their triumphs in the standard event and downed their respective opponents to remain on top in the premier Under-20 class after two rounds of the rapid event of the 19th ASEAN+ Age Group Chess Championships at the Royal Mandaya Hotel in Davao City yesterday.
Bersamina turned back Vietnam’s Pham Minh Hieu to keep his grip of the lead alongside another Vietnamese Ngueyn Huynh Tuan, while Mendoza dumped Davao City pride Ella Grace Moulic to likewise zoom to the top with yet two more Vietnam bets Nguyen Thanh Thuy Tien and Nguyen Thi Minh Oanh.
Dale Bernardo, who earned an IM title after ruling the standard U18 the day before, kept flashing solid form as he trounced the Philippines’ Jerick Marino to stay at the helm with countryman Istraelito Rilloraza and top pick IM Tran Minh Thang of Vietnam.
Rilloraza waylaid Marc Bryan Villarojo, while Tran overpowered compatriot Nguyen Tien Anh in this tournament organized by Chess Events International, sanctioned by NCFP under president Butch Pichay, bankrolled by the Philippine Sports Commission and backed by Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte.
Woman FIDE Master Allaney Jia Doroy snatched the solo lead by dumping Vietnam’s Kieu Bich Thuy with a perfect output of two points in the girls’ U18.
In the open U16, Jarvey Labanda stole the thunder from the big guns as he shocked top seed IM Nguyen Anh Khoi to barge into a six-player logjam at first that included standard gold medal winner Ronald Canino, who zapped countryman Reishi Boy Polan.
Also staying unscathed in the division were Vietnam’s Nguyen Lam Yung, Pham Phu Vinh and Bui Duc Huy and the Phl’s Cyril Felrod Telesforo, who stunned fancied FM Alekhine Nouri.
In the U14, Daniel Quizon waylaid Tran Dang Minh Quang of Vietnam to stay in the seven-man tie on top with two points apiece.
Quizon dropped from the premier U20 to this division to secure the country the extra gold, hoping to slow down the Vietnamese, who dominated the standard event.
In the U8, Al-Basher Buto, who is out to bounce back from his heartbreaking collapse in the standard event, remained unbeaten with a win over Vietnam’s Ho Dang Nhat Minh.