Gomez grabs solo lead in Vietnam

FILIPINO GM John Paul Gomez defeated top seed Vietnamese GM Le Quang Liem yesterday to extend his unbeaten run in the fifth round of the 1st HD Bank Chess Championships in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Playing under the banner of NCFP President/ Chairman Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr, the former La Salle-Taft ace raised his total to a perfect 5.0 points to stay in course for the top prize of $6,000.

Earlier, the Binan, Laguna pride beat Chinese GM Zhao Jun in the fourth round, Wednesday night to grab the solo lead.

Meanwhile, GM Darwin Laylo, settled for a draw with GM Cao Sang of Vietnam in the fifth round to up his tally to 3.5 points, the same output of GM Roland “Kulot” Salvador, IM Oliver Dimakiling and IM Oliver Barbosa.

Laylo who hails from San Roque, Marikina also split the point with Tran Thna Tu of Vietnam in the fourth round.

Salvador from San Jose, del Monte, Bulacan crushed Vo Thanh Ninh of Vietnam and Lu Yijie of China in rounds 4 and 5, while the Davao pride Dimakiling bowed to GM Yu Yangyi of China then nipped WGM Nguyen Thi Thanh An of Vietnam.

Barbosa of Taytay, Rizal beat WIM Pham Le Thao Nguyen of Vietnam and IM Goh Wei Ming of Singapore, in the 4th and 5th rounds respectively. /Correspondent MARLON BERNARDINO