Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Grandmaster Sergei Tiviakov of the Netherlands beat GM Cao Sang of Vietnam yesterday to seize the solo lead after five rounds of the DYTM Raja Nazrin Shah International Chess Championships 2012 at the Olympic Sports Hotel here.
The tournament top seed raised his total to 4.5 points after beating Sang in 47 moves of their French encounter.
Cao dropped into a huge group of chasers with 4.0 points alongside GMs Darwin Laylo and Mark Paragua of the Philippines, Nguyen Anh Dung of Vietnam and Deepan Chakkravarthy J., of India, International Masters Rolando Nolte of the Philippines, Vishnu Prasanna V. of India, Jahongir Vakhidov of Uzbekistan and Nguyen Van Huy of Vietnam, FIDE Master Ronnie Lim of Malaysia and Jodi Setyaki Azarya of Indonesia.
Laylo and Deepan halved the point after 19 moves of Slav; Paragua and Nolte split the point after 22 moves of Sicilian; Nguyen Anh Dung and Nguyen Van Huy agreed to a truce after 20 moves of Sicilian; Lim downed Franz Barretto after 31 moves of Nimzo; Vishnu Vishnu toppled Rahman Masruri after 34 moves of English Opening; and Azarya stunned IM Ronald Dableo after 29 moves of English Opening.
Another half point behind were GMs Oliver Barbosa, Raset Ziatdinov and Tahir Vakhidov, IMs Oliver Dimakiling, Kirill Kuderinov and Duong The Anh and FM Julius de Ramos.
Barbosa scalped Aris T.L.S. in their Slav encounter; Ziatdinov beat Edward Lee after 36 moves of Scotch; Vakhidov drew with Sean Winshand Cuhendi after 43 moves of English Opening; Dimakiling trounced James Attwood after 42 moves of Slav; Kuderinov took the measure of National and US Master Almario Marlon Bernardino, Jr. after 61 moves of Reti Opening; Duong spanked Thanadon Kulpruethanon; and de Ramos defeated Steven O’Reilly.
The tournament organized by Polgar Chess Asia for Kuala Lumpur Chess Association (KLCA) is supported by the Malaysian Chess Federation and sponsored by Masterskill Education Group. Tournament Director is Fide Master Peter Long. /correspondent Marlon Bernardino