Successive draws drop Gomez to third

FILIPINO Grandmaster (GM) John Paul Gomez scored his 2nd straight draw yesterday against Vietnamese International Master (IM) Nguyen Van Huy in the fifth round to tie for third place in the 2nd HD Bank Cup International Open Chess tournament 2012 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Gomez earlier drew with compatriot GM Mark Paragua in Sunday’s fourth round to raise his total to 4.0 points on account of three wins and two draws, the same output of GM Cao Sang, IMs Van Huy and Nguyen Doc Hoa of Vietnam and IM Gao Rui of China.

Meanwhile, GM Ni Hua of China defeated countryman GM Li Shilong in the fourth and GM Paragua in the fifth to tally 5.0 points for the solo lead.

GM Le Quang Liem of Vietnam beat compatriot Vo Thanh Ninh and GM Xiu Deshun of China to occupy solo second with 4.5 points.

Paragua who joined Gomez and Ni at the top of the standings after Saturday’s third round, was stuck at 3.5 points and dropped into a tie for 8th to 22nd spots in the company of GM Eugene Torre, GM Oliver Barbosa and IM Rolando Nolte.

At 23rd to 39th places with 3.0 points were IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia, FM Paulo Bersamina and NM Edgar Reggie Olay. /Correspondent Marlon Bernardino