GRANDMASTERS Mark Paragua, John Paul Gomez and National Master Edgar Reggie Olay scored back-to-back wins yesterday to create a 13-way-tie for first in the 2nd HD Bank Cup International Open Chess tournament 2012 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Paragua defeated FM Pham Duc Thang of Vietnam in the first round then subdued Vietnamese IM Tu Hoang Thai in the second round.
Gomez beat IM Bao Khoa and FM Nguyen Van Hai of Vietnam while Olay whacked CM Nguyen Van Toan Thanh and Nguyen Sy Hung of Vietnam.
Also with perfect 2.0 points were top seed GM Le Quang Liem (2698), IM Duong The Anh and FM Le Tuan Minh of Vietnam, GM Xiu Deshun, GM Li Shilong, GM Ni Hua, IM Gao Rui and Yu Chaojie of China, IM Diu Viacheslav of Russia and IM Ly Moulthun of Australia.
Filipinos IMs Oliver Dimakiling of Davao City and Jan Emmanuel Garcia of Manila tote 1.5 points each, good for a share of 14th-34th spots.
Dimakiling beat Pham Thi Thu Hien of Vietnam then drew with Nguyen Thien Viet also of Vietnam while Garcia halved the point with Christer Jon Aplin of Singapore then toppled WFM Vu Thi Dieu Ai of Vietnam.
Meanwhile, GM Eugene Torre and GM Oliver Barbosa bounced back from first round setbacks by beating their second round opponents to join compatriots IM Rolando Nolte, IM Emmanuel Senador, FM Paolo Bersamina and NM Rhobel Legaspi in the 35th-64th spots with one point each. /correspondent Marlon Bernardino