Pascua split the point, but Bersamina falter in 17th Asian Continental Chess Championships

Pascua split the point, but Bersamina falter in 17th Asian Continental Chess Championships

Pascua split the point, but Bersamina falter in 17th Asian Continental Chess Championships

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MAKATI CITY, Philippines –Filipino IM Haridas Pascua continued his strong play in the second round of the 17th Asian Continental Chess Championships (2nd Manny Pacquiao Cup), halving the point with IM Novendra Priasmoro of Indonesia on Tuesday at the Tiara Oriental Hotel in Makati.
Pascua now has 1.0 point through second rounds tied with 30 other players in the World Chess Federation sanctioned tournament.

"Okay lamang y'ung draw para ma preserve ko energy ko sa mga susunod na round." said Pascua who needed to raise his elo rating 2442 to 2500 to complete his GM title status.

"Nakatutok kasi tayu na maka gain ng elo rating points tungo sa 2500 barrier para makumpleto na natin ang GM title requirement." added Pascua who got his third and final grandmaster norm three years ago at the Abu Dhabi Masters Open Tournament.

But Filipino IM Paulo Bersamina failed to sustain his momentum, with Bersamina losing to GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov of Uzbekistan.
"Bawi na lang po tayu sa susunod na round," said Bersamina who already two GM norm under his belt.

Jun Isaac
Jun Isaac

It shall be recalled that Pascua halved the point with Grandmaster Vidit Santosh Gujrathi (elo 2701) of India after 36 moves of Neo-Gruenfeld defense in the first round on Monday while Bersamina defeated Grandmaster Le Quang Liem (elo 2714) of Vietnam after 36 moves of Giuco Piano Opening.
With the win, GM Abdusattorov led the huge group of 2.0 pointers that includes No.2 GM Wei Yi (2728) of China, No.7 GM Ni Hua (2683) of China, No.8 GM S. P. Sethuraman (2664) of India, No.9 GM Nguyen Ngoc Truong Song (2641) of Vietnam, No.10 GM Lu Shanglei (2636) of China, No.11 GM Surya Shekhar Ganguly (2621) of India, No.12 GM Alireza Firouzja (2607) of Iran and No.57 FM Lik Zang Lye (2321) of Malaysia.

WGM Janelle Mae Frayna, WIM Marie Antoinette San Diego, WIM Jan Jodilyn Fronda, WFM Cherry Ann Mejia and WCM Christy Lamiel Bernales all ended up with a sorry lost in the women's division.

The top five in the men’s advance to the World Cup while the champion in the women qualifies in the Women’s World Championship tournament.
Meanwhile, New Zealand based Jun Isaac yielded to Orlando Pascual in the challenger section. Jun is the elder brother of former PBA player Leo Isaac.-Marlon Bernardino-
Photo credit to Ronaldo "RNB" Banaag