Intenational Masters Jan Emmanuel Garcia and Oliver Dimakiling downed FIDE Master Stephen Rome Pangilinan and IM Angelo Young, respectively, to bounce back to contention after two rounds of the 7th Asian Continental Chess Championships (2nd Manny Pacquiao Cup) at the Tiara Hotel in Makati City Tuesday night.
Garcia, who made his World Chess Olympiad debut in Batumi, Georgia a few months back, and Dimakiling registered their first points to lead six other Filipinos in a 23-player group at 22nd place that included opening day heroes IM Paulo Bersamina and Haridas Pascua.
The 20-year-old Bersamina failed to follow up on his shock win over third seed Grandmaster Le Quang Liem of Vietnam the day before as he faltered against GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov of Uzbekistan to lose his grip of the share of the lead.
Pascua, 25, for his part, came trough with his second straight draw, this time against IM Novendra Priasmoro of Indonesia, who has a higher FIDE rating of 2483 compared to the Filipino’s 2442 in this nine-round tournament sanctioned by the NCFP headed by Butch Pichay and bankrolled by Sen. Manny Pacquiao and the Phl Sports Commission.
The standoff came just a day after Pascua came a move away from slaying fourth seed Santosh Gujrath Vidit of India before agreeing to a draw.
Also posting their first points were IMs Daniel Quizon, Roderick Nava and Ricky de Guzman and untitled Michael Concio, Jr.
In the women’s division, WFM Shania Mae Mendoza halved the point with WFM Aay Aisyah Anisa of Indonesia to nail her second straight draw.
So far, Mendoza was with WFM Allaney Jia Doroy, WIM Bernadette Galas and WIM Kylen Joy Mordido as the best-placed locals with a point to show.
WGM Janelle Mae Frayna, the country’s top chesser, fell to WIM P V Nandhidhaa of India and was left with just half a point.
