International Master Paulo Bersamina and Grandmaster John Paul Gomez blasted their opponents to forge a four-way tie for the lead after two rounds in the Eastern Asian Zonal 3.3 Chess Championships in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
Playing white, Bersamina stunned second seed GM Tsegmed Batchuluun of host Mongolia in 52 moves of Panno Variations of Fianchetto King’s Indian encounter to hike his tally to 2 points after an opening-round win over the weekend.
Gomez also scored his second point at the expense of Mongolian GM Bazar Khatanbaatar.
The two Filipinos’ victories not only arranged them a tie at the leaderboard with local bets Badrakh Galmandakh and FIDE Master Urtnasan Nasanjargal, but also set them up a duel in the third round.
IM John Marvin Miciano, meanwhile, bounced back from a first-round loss to Gomez with a second-round triumph over Mongolia’s Itgelt Khuyagtsogt for 1 point at the crowded 14th to 37th places. (Kristel Satumbaga)
