By Rey Bancod
International Master Ricky de Guzman, hoping to revive his career at the age of 51, provided one of few Filipino victories Thursday in the 17th Asian Continental Chess Championships at the Tiara Hotel in Makati.
The 1981 Asian junior champion, who lived many years in the United States before his return, toppled IM Sumiya Bilguun of Mongolia with black to hike his total to 2.5 points after four rounds.
Since his first round defeat at the hands of GM Rinat Jumabayev of Kazakhstan, De Guzman drew with untitled Adelard Bai of Taipei and won the next two matches against IM Shamsiddin Vokhidov of Uzbekistan and Bilguun.
De Guzman is the highest-placed Filipino in the 64-man Open field, but is a full point behind co-leaders GM Surya Shekhar Ganguly and GM S.P. Sethuraman of India and GM Wei Yi of China.
Ganguly, playing black, trounced GM Parham Maghsoodloo of Iran while Wei disposed of GM Alireza Firouzja of Iran.
The other PH win against a foreign opponent was recorded by IM John Marvin Miciano who bested IM Novendra Priasmoro of Indonesia.
Miciano now has 2 points, the same score with six others including GM Darwin Laylo and IM Roderick Nava.
Laylo, one of only three Filipino GMs in the field, defeated compatriot Edsel Montoya while Nava bowed to top seed GM Wang Hao of China.
GMs John Paul Gomez and Joey Antonio lead a bunch of Filipinos with 1.5 points. They are IM Paulo Bersamina, IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia, IM Haridas Pascua, IM Chito Garma, IM Daniel Quizon, IM Oliver Dimakiling, FM Mari Joseph Turqueza, FM Alekhine Nouri, CM John Merill Jacutina and Michael Concio Jr.
In women’s play, WFM Allaney Jia Doroy upset IM Guliskhan Nakhbayeva of Kazakhstan to improve to 2.5 points, the best score among Filipinas.
Doroy is tied for eighth place with six others, a full point behind co-leaders WFM Turmunkh Munkhzul of Mongolia, IM Rout Padmini of India and IM Pham Le Thao Nguyen of Vietnam.
Among those with 2 points are WGM Janelle Mae Frayna, WIM Marie Antoinette San Diego and WFM Shania Mae Mendoza.
