Meanwhile, Felix Shaun Balbona of Cebu is leading the junior boys category of the Standard chess competition after scoring 5.0 points in six rounds, half a point ahead of Jaymarc Gutierrez of Manila and Christian Nanola of San Pablo City at the PUP main campus in Manila.
Jean Karen Enriquez of Marikina City and Adelaide Joie Lim of Bacolod City remained on top in the junior girls category also with 5.0 points each.
In the men’s class, International Master Jan Emmanuel Garcia grabbed the solo lead with 5.5 points after beating Cebu’s Eden Diano.
Top seed GM Mark Paragua and Fide Master Haridas Pascua are tied at 2nd-3rd with 5.0 points after drawing their sixth-round game.
12-time national open champion GM Rogelio ‘Joey’ Antonio Jr. defeated Jeffrey Ravago to lead the group of 4.5 pointers in the company of GM John Paul Gomez, IM Barlo Nadera, IM elect Mari Joseph Turqueza and NM Alcon John Datu.
In women’s play, WFM Rulp Ylem Jose split the point with WIM Bernadette Galas to score 4.5 points and create a three-way tie for first place along with WNM Jedara Docena of Bohol. /with corresppondent Marlon bernardino