by Kristel Satumbaga
Woman International Master Bernadette Galas held many-time Indian champion Woman Grandmaster Mary Ann Gomes to a draw and jumped back into the Top 20 in women’s play of the Asian Continental Chess Championships in Xingtai, China on Sunday.
Coming off a victory over another Indian WGM Ghate Swati the day before, the 22-year-old Galas continued to show solid play and split the point with Gomes in 34 moves of a Sicilian duel to improve to 1.5 points for a share of 16th to 20th places.
WIM Kylan Joy Mordido, who is a norm away from becoming a WGM, joined Galas in the group after trouncing Chinese WIM Wang Doudou.
Meanwhile, Woman FIDE Master Shania Mae Mendoza and WIM Marie Antoinette San Diego crashed out of the Top 20 following defeats to second seed IM Batkhuyag Munguntuul of Mongolia and seventh pick IM Pham Le Thao Nguyen of Vietnam.
WGM Janelle Mae Frayna, for her part, was held to a draw by untitled Chinese Yan Tianqi to slightly improve to 1 point.
In men’s play, International Master Jan Emmanuel Garcia downed Woman IM Song Yuxin of China to forge a 13-player tie at 35th place with 1.5 points.
The 23-year-old Garcia seeks to improve his standings more with a better result when he battles Chinese GM Wang Yunguo in the fourth round at press time.
IM Paulo Bersamina, meanwhile, delivered another victory for the PH team at the expense of Malaysian Chan Kim Yew to clinch his first point in this nine-round tournament staking five slots to the Chess World Cup late this year in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia.
