Gonzales, So lead Subic Open chess tournament

MANILA, Philippines - Grandmaster Jayson Gonzales of the Philippines defeated compatriot international master Julio Catalino Sadorra to gain the solo lead after four rounds at the 2008 Subic Open international chess championship at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention in Subic. It was the fourth straight win of Gonzales, who beat Sadorra after 40 moves of a Slav Defense, the organizers said on Tuesday. Gonzales, now with a perfect 4 score, will meet GM Wesley So in the next round. So climbed to solo second with 3.5 after downing Rolando Andador. Twelve players, grouped together with top seed GM Yuriy Kuzubov of Ukraine and GM Susanto Megaranto of Indonesia, share third to 14th places with three points. Also with three points are IM Zaw Htun Wynn of Myanmar, who downed IM Chito Garma; NM Emmanuel Senador, who crushed IM Aung Aung of Myanmar; IM John Paul Gomez and IM Richard Bitoon, who drew their match; and NM Rolando Nolte and IM Sadikin Irwanto of Indonesia. GM Rogelio Antonio Jr. was back into contention with 2.5 points after humbling Merben Roque. Asia's first GM Eugene Torre agreed to a draw with Anjas Novita of Indonesia, and GM Buenaventura "Bong" Vilamayor halved a point with FM Roderick Nava to join Antonio and 13 other players with 2.5 points. Standings after four rounds 4 points: J. Gonzales (RP) 3.5 points: W. So (RP) 3 points: Y. Kuzubov (Ukraine), S. Megaranto (Indonesia), O. Barbosa (RP), J. Sadorra (RP), R. Bitoon (RP), R. Nolte (RP), E. Senador (RP), J. Gomez (RP), D. Ballecer (RP), S. Irwanto (Indonesia), Z.H. Wynn (Myanmar), O.K. Nay (Myanmar) 2.5 points: R. Antonio (RP), E., Torre (RP), B. Villamayor (RP), R. Bancod (RP), B. Nadera (RP), E. Bagamasbad (RP), R. Nava (RP), J. Tan (RP), R. Andador (RP), R. Olay, S. Siyuan (China), Tirto (Indonesia), S. Deni (Indonesia), H. Mas (Malaysia), K. Cecep (Indonesia), A. Novitas (Indonesia)

- GMANews.TV