GM GOMEZ SECURES 2ND DRAW IN VIETNAM CHESS TOURNEY

Filipino Grandmaster (GM) John Paul Gomez scored his 2nd straight draw against Vietnamese International Master (IM) Nguyen Van Huy in the fifth round of the 2nd HD Bank Cup International Open Chess tournament 2012 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam yesterday.

The Binan, Laguna based Gomez earlier drew with compatriot GM Mark Paragua in Sunday's fourth round. The La Salle Taft University Mechanical engineering graduate student raise total 4 points in five outings on account of three wins and two draws, the same output of GM Cao Sang, IMs Van Huy and Nguyen Doc Hoa of Vietnam and IM Gao Rui of China.

GM Ni Hua of China defeated countryman GM Li Shilong in the fourth then routed GM Paragua in the fifth round to scored his fifth straight wins in as many round to remain on top.

GM Le Quang Liem of Vietnam, on the other hand beat compatriot Vo Thanh Ninh and GM Xiu Deshun of China, respectively to occupied solo second position with 4.5 points.

Paragua who joined Gomez and Ni at the top of the standings in Saturday's third round, was stuck at 3.5 points. The Bulacan pride Paragua dropped into a tie for 8th to 22nd place that includes GM Eugene Torre, GM Oliver Barbosa and IM Rolando Nolte.

At 23rd to 39th place with 3 points each were IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia, FM Paulo Bersamina and NM Edgar Reggie Olay.

IM Oliver Dimakiling and IM Emmanuel Senador was tied at 40th to 60th place with 2.5 points while NM Rhobel Legaspi joints 74th place with 1.5 points.