By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Christian Gian Karlo Arca shocked top seed International Master Ganzorig Amartuvshin of Mongolia in the sixth round to gain a share of the lead in the Eastern Asia Juniors and Girls Chess Championships in Karawaci-Tangerang, Indonesia on Monday, July 8.
The win catapulted the 15-year-old Panabo, Davao del Norte-born FIDE Master straight to the top alongside Mongolian International Master Munkhdalai Amilal and Indonesian FM Nayaka Budhidharma with five points apiece.
It also kept Arca unscathed with four wins and two draws.
Beating higher rated foes isn’t that surprising for Arca, who was world youth blitz champion in Montesilvano, Italy in November last year and topped a Grandmaster tournament in Quang Ninh, Vietnam last May.
Arca, who is seeking to earn the IM title and possibly a GM norm in this nine-round tournament, will have a chance to sustain his impressive run as he was tackling Amilal in the seventh round at press time.
In the girls’ side, Franchesca Largo downed Shafira Devi Herfesa to stay in the title hunt.
The win improved Largo, 17, to joint third with Mongolian Woman FM Nanjid Tsogzolmaa with 4.5 points apiece, just one point behind solo leader WIM Laysa Latifah of Indonesia with 5.5 points.
Indonesian WFM Cecilia Natalie Liuviann was solo No. 2 with five points.
