By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
April Joy Claros and Michael Concio pulled off impressive victories to lead their respective divisions after five rounds in the Asian qualifier of the FIDE World Youth Rapid Championship Saturday.
Claros, who made it to the tournament as a wildcard entry, downed United Arab Emirates’ Mohamed Al Muaini Aisha to claim her fifth straight victory and a share of the helm with equally unbeaten Laysa Latifah of Indonesia going into the final two rounds Sunday in the girls’ 14-under class.
Concio smashed FIDE Master Krishna S. Rohith of India to keep his grip of the solo lead in the open 16-under with 4.5 points, half a point ahead of a five-player pack headed by International Master Daniel Quizon with four points.
Quizon vented his ire on FM Kazybek Nogerbek of Kazakhstan to bounce back from a fourth-round defeat and stay in finals contention.
Claros, Concio, and Quizon are all hoping to finish in the top three to make it to the elite world stage.
Also in the hunt for a place in the final round were WIM Kylen Joy Mordido in the premier girls 18-under, Al Basher Buto in the 10-under, and King Whisley Puso in the 12-under.
