By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Christian Gian Karlo Arca ran into misfortunes and suffered two straight defeats that quashed his title hopes in the Eastern Asia Juniors and Girls Chess Championships in Karawaci-Tangerang, Indonesia on Tuesday, July 9.
The 15-year-old FIDE Master bowed to Mongolian fifth seed and International Master Munkhdalai in the seventh round and Indonesian second seed IM Aditya Bagus Arfan in the eighth and penultimate round that zapped his chances in topping this nine-round meet.
The loss kept Arca with five points, pulling him down to eight-player group at eighth place.
It included teammate Andrei Dolorosa, who succumbed to third pick IM Prin Laohawirapap of Thailand.
Interestingly, Arca and Dolorosa were facing off in the last round at press time with the winner securing a Top 10 finish.
Franchesca Largo, another Filipino bet, suffered the same fate as Arca as she faltered in the last two rounds at the hands of Indonesians WIM Laysa Latifah and WFM Samantha Edithso.
That sent Largo crashing from joint No. 3 to a share of No. 9 with 4.5 points to show.
Largo was battling Singapore’s Fang Kun at press time with an aspiration of securing a Top 10 effort.
