Jota grabs share of lead in GM tilt

Surprising Jonathan Jota put himself back in an ideal position on Saturday as he regained a share of the lead halfway through the 2017 Battle of Grandmasters National Chess Championships at the City Club of Alphaland Makati Place.

After relinquishing the top spot last Friday when defending champion Joey Antonio was forced to withdraw due to severe sinusitis, the 20-year-old Jota (2101) rediscovered his flair in Round 5 by defeating fellow untitled John Marvin Miciano (2212) in 47 moves behind a Sicilian defense.

The proud Lyceum student then settled for a split point against young- ster Michael Concio Jr. (1688) in the sixth round, hiking up his point total to 4.5 points while boosting his title bid in the 11-round, eight-day tourney which serves as the country’s main qualifiers for next year’s Chess Olympiad in Batumi, Georgia.

In the distaff side, Bernadette Galas (2111) sustained her newfound dominance to earn a share of the lead with fellow WIM Marie Antoinette San Diego (2130).

Galas, using a Sicilian Defense, needed just 39 moves in defeating untitled Francois Magpily followed it up by defeating Woman FIDE Master Michelle Yaon (1814) in the sixth round.

San Diego, meanwhile, turned back WIM Beverly Mendoza (1191) in 64 moves using Sicilian Defense in the fifth round then settled for a split split against Magpily in Round 6.

Erstwhile solo leader WIM Catherine Secopito (2120) slipped down to third overall following a fifth round victory against Yaon in 64 moves using a Catalan Defense and a stalemate against untitled Arvie Lozano in the sixth round.