Standings after Round 7:
(Open division)
5.5 pts –GM Mark Paragua (PH), GM Marat Dzhumaev (UZB), GM Li Chao (CHN)
5.0 pts –GM Julio Catalino Sadorra (PH),GM Le Quang Liem (VIET), GM Krishnan Sasikiran (IND), GM Baskaran Adhiban (IND), GM Subramanian Arun Prasad (IND), GM Oliver Barbosa (PH), GM Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son (VIET)
Manila—Grandmaster Mark Paragua drew with GM Baskaran Adhiban of India in their seventh-round match Friday night, to share the lead with overnight co-leader GM Li Chao of China and GM Marat Dzhumaev of Uzbekistan in the $100,000 Manny Pacquiao Cup Asian Continental Chess Championship at the Midas Hotel and Casino.
Playing black, Paragua split the point with Adhiban after 39 moves of Double Fianchetto Opening to raise his total to 5.5 points, the same output of Li and Dzhumaev.
“Pinilit ko pong manalo kaso nauwi talaga sa tabla eh,” said Paragua.
Li, handling the black pieces halved the point with US-based GM Julio Catalino Sadorra after 42 moves of Gruenfeld defense while Dzhumaev defeated GM John Paul Gomez after 53 moves of Dutch defense.
The nine-round Swiss System event offering $100,000 in prizes is organized by the GM Eugene Torre Chess Foundation and sponsored by eight-division world boxing champion and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao, Cafe Puro, Alaxan, Oriental and Motolite Corp.
Stalking the pacesetters with 4.0 points each were Sadorra, Adhiban, GM Oliver Barbosa of the Philippines, top seed GM Le Quang Liem of Vietnam, GM Krishnan Sasikiran and GM Subramanian Arun Prasad of India and GM Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son of Vietnam.
In other matches, Barbosa outclassed IM Wan Yunguo of China after 40 moves of Gruenfeld defense; Le drew with Prasad after 67 moves of Queen’s Indian defense; Sasikiran subdued countryman GM Gopal after 44 moves of Modern defense and Ngoc Truong Son crushed IM Firman Syah Farid of Indonesia after 33 moves of Ruy Lopez Opening.
In the 8th round, Dzhumaev meets Le on board one, Sasikiran plays Paragua on board two, Le faces Sadorra on board three, Ngoc Truong Son battles Adhiban on board four and Barbosa tangles with Prasad on board five.
In women’s play, WGM Huang Qian of China defeated WIM Chelsie Monica Sihite of Indonesia to create a seven-way tie for first with IM Batkhuyag Munguntuul of Mongolia, WGM Guo Qi of China, WGM Mary Ann Gomes of India, IM Pham Le Thao Nguyen of Vietnam, WGM Tan Zhongyi of China and WGM Wang Jue of China.
They all have 5.0 points.