Pinays shine in China chess

KUNMING CITY, Yunnan Province, China — Marie Antoinette San Diego and Samantha Glo Revita of the Philippines won their respective matches to power the Asean team to a 2.5-1.5 win over powerhouse China in Friday’s sixth round of the 2011 China-Asean  junior chess classic competition at the Lanice Hotel Inn, here.

San Diego played superbly with the white pieces in crushing Zhao Sheng Xin while Revita prevailed with black against Huang Mo Fei.

Ummi Fisabilillah of Indonesia, the third player of the Asean team settled for a draw with Zhang Rang.

In the morning fifth round action, the Asean squad also defeated China, 2.5-1.5 with San Diego and Fisabilillah leading the way.

San Diego subdued Zhang Rang while Fisabillah nipped Zhao Sheng Xin. Revita meantime, split the point with Xu Qian Qian and Jiang Xin Ran was beaten by Huang Mo Fei.

With two rounds to go, China has 12.5 points a full point ahead of the ASEAN team (11.5 points) in the team competition.

Meanwhile, in the individual competition, Xu Qian Qian of China remains on top with 5.0 points, half a point ahead of San Diego (4.5 pts). Revita, Fisabilillah and Hoang Mo Fei of China are tied at 3rd to 5th places with 3.5 points each.

In other results, Daryl Unix Samantila defeated Liu Ze Zhou of China in the open 12-and-under category; Ronald Canino beat Ma Lin of China in the open 10-U; Julius Gonzales halved the point with Dai Wen Zhi of China in the open 10-U; Dennis Gutierrez III lost to Yu Kai Feng of China (8-U) and Jerlyn Mae Sandiego yielded to Wang Ming Qing of China (girls 8-U). /Correspondent Marlon Bernardino