Grandmaster John Paul Gomez suffered a blow to his World Cup bid after slipping for the share of seventh place after seven rounds in the Eastern Asian Zonal 3.3 Chess Championships in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
Gomez was held to a draw by Mongolian Khuyagtsogt Itgelt to post 4.5 points and tie with three others on three wins, three draws and one loss.
He was 1.5 points behind solo leader International Master Nguyen Van Huy of Vietnam with two rounds left in the tournament.
Gomez needs to catch up on his game if he wants to make it to the World Cup in Russia this September as the tournament stakes only two slots in the said meet.
IM Paul Bersamina trounced Mongolian FIDE Master Byambasuren Garidmagnai but was still at joint 11th with 4 points on three wins, two draws and two defeats.
Also tallying 4 points was IM John Marvin Miciano, who downed Mongolia’s Nyamsuren Batbold.
Woman Grandmaster Janelle Frayna and Woman FIDE Master Shania Mendoza were also two points behind solo leader WFM Turmunkh Munkhzul of Mongolia in the women’s side.
Frayna and Mendoza have 4 points after besting WGM Battsooj Amina and WIM Bayargjargal Bayarmaa. (Kristel Satumbaga)
