Diano shares lead with Natividad

EDEN Diano and Richard Natividad share the lead in the ongoing Cebu City Chess Classic at the Elizabeth Mall activity center yesterday.

Diano and Caballes are just three wins away from capturing the title.

Diano last beat Roy Caballes in 24 moves of Indian defense in the fourth round. Natividad, on the other hand, beat 12-year-old Lapu-Lapu City chess star Allan Pason via 42 moves of Catalan opening. Both have 4.0 points.

International Master Kim Steven Yap is currently at second place with 3.5 points tied with 16 other wood pushers including strong contenders Rommel Ganzon, FIDE Master (FM) Anthony Makinano and Voltaire Sevillano. /CORRESPONDENT DALE G. ROSAL