Cedric Khalel Abris downed Phil Martin Casiguran in the fifth round over the weekend to seize the solo lead after five rounds of the Philippine National Juniors Chess Championships at the Philippine Chess Academy for Excellence in Quezon City.
From a share of No. 2 with second seed FIDE Master Mark Jay Bacojo in the fourth round, the 17-year-old 12th grader from La Salle-Greenhills vaulted to the top with 4.5 points following his masterful triumph over Casiguran, the former solo leader.
Abris, who won the gold in the ASEAN rapid category in Bangkok, Thailand last week and four mints in the Batang Pinoy in Puerto Princesa, Palawan a month ago, was battling Bacojo in the sixth round at presstime and hoping for a victory.
If he beats Bacojo, who is currently tied for No. 2 with three others with four points apiece, Abris will inch closer to claiming the top purse worth P20,000 and a slot to next year’s World Juniors Championships in Petrovac, Montenegro.
Also in second with four points in this eight-round event backed by the Philippine Sports Commission and National Chess Federation of the Philippines were Bacojo, Casiguran and Mar Aviel Carredo.
In the juniors’ girls’ class, Lexie Grace Hernandez trounced Karol Jozef de Guia to catch up on the latter at the helm with four points each.
In hot pursuit of the co leaders were a four-player cast of 3.5-pointers consisting of reigning national women’s champion and Olympiad veteran Ruelle Canino, Kayla Lorraine Aurelio, Jersey Marticio and Daren dela Cruz.
