Standings after Round 4: (12 player's field, Single Round-Robin Format)
3.5 points IM Angelo Young
3 points Eduardo Tungia, Edgar "Bote" Bautista
2.5 points FM Adrian Pacis, NM Efren Bagamasbad, Jun Isaac
2 points Ed Madrid
1.5 points Agripino Camposano, NM Allan Sasot,
1.0 point Felix Duterte, Vic Alfaro
0.0 WCM Imelda Flores
8-times Illinois, USA chess champion International Master (IM) Angelo Abundo Young split the point with National Master (NM) Efren Bagamasbad using the black pieces after 48 moves of Kings Indian defense in a battle of heavyweights to assume the solo lead in the fourth round of the 2019 National Seniors Chess Championship (Standard competition) at the Philippine Academy for Chess Excellence (PACE) No. 56 Mindanao Avenue in Project 6, Quezon City on Tuesday.
The draw enabled Young to grab the solo lead with 3.5 points, just a half-a-point ahead of Eduardo Tungia and Sydney, Australia-based Edgar "Bote" Bautista.
"I hope I can sustain my momentum,” said the Marilao, Bulacan resident Young, founder of the newly-formed Young Chess Academy.
Tungia, who lost to Young in the third round, bounced back after beating World's First Fide Master Adrian Ros Pacis after 44 moves of Hippopotamus defense while Bautista subdued former NCFP director Eduardo Madrid after 37 moves of French defense.
Auckland, New Zealand based Jun Isaac, elder brother of ex-PBA player Leo Isaac failed to share the lead with Young after suferred a heart-breaking loses in advantage position against Agripino Camposano after 37 moves of King's Indian Attack.
Thus, the 75-years-old Isaac, the oldest participants in this 12 player's field remains at 2.5 points, the same output of Bagamasbad and Pacis.
In other matches saw, Felix Duterte (not related to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte) upset National Master (NM) Allan Sasot after 76 moves of another Kings Indian Attack skirmish while Vic Alfaro nipped ex-Olympian Woman Candidate Master (WCM) Imelda Flores after 26 moves of London System Opening.
According to national coach Asia's First Grandmaster Eugene Torre, the champion in the 2019 National Seniors Chess Championship will represent the country (if there is available funds) in this year's Asian Seniors Chess Championship (September 8-18, 2019, Almaty, Kazakhstan) and World Seniors Chess Championship (November 11 to 24, 2019, Bucharest, Romania).
Meanwhile, Jerome Angelo Aragones outplayed Jacob Sta. Ana to post his third straight wins in as many round and create a five-way tie for first that includes John Jasper Laxamana, Franklin Loyd Andes, Christopher Khalil Kis-Ing and Ramel Ramilla in the on-going National Championship Elimination round (Luzon).
In the women's play, Alexis Anne Osena, Natorri Biazza Diaz and Manilyn Cabungcag remain on top with 3.0 points each after 3 games of play.
Tournament Director is GM Jayson O. Gonzales while Chief Arbiter is IA Gene J. Poliarco.
Organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines headed by it's Chairman/President Surigao del Sur Rep. Prospero "Butch" Arreza Pichay Jr. in close cooperation with Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Olympic Committee.-Marlon Bernardino-