Nava dumps Indonesian IM, gains on Asian chess leaders

Filipino International Master Roderick Nava stunned a higher-rated IM Novendra Priasmoro of Indonesia to move a half point off the pace after three rounds of the seventh Asian Continental Chess Championships (second Manny Pacquiao Cup) at the Tiara Hotel in Makati Wednesday.

The 33-year-old Nava, seeded only 44th out of 64 participants with a FIDE rating 2392, notched a second straight win after an earlier victory over Cambodian Randolph Schain in the second round Tuesday.

He’s the leading Filipino player in the tourney at press time.

Twelve players including second pick GM Wei Yi of China led the way with 2.5 points apiece as most of the top board chessers fought to draws.

Nava’s lone loss came at the hands of 12th seed GM Alireza Firouzja of Iran in the opening round Monday in this tournament backed by Sen. Manny Pacquiao, the Philip- pine Sports Commission and NCFP president Butch Pichay.

The Cavite native is currently in an 11-player logjam at 13th place and will clash with top seed GM Wang Hao of China, who bounced back from a shock defeat to Indonesian FIDE Master Mohamad Ervan in the second round with a win over compatriot Wang Shixu.

IM Haridas Pascua drew yet again, this time against 18th seed GM Abhimanyu Puranik of India to join five other Filipinos in a big group at 24th spot with 1.5 points.

The 25-year-old Pascua also split the point with fourth seed GM Santosh Gujrathi Vidit and Priasmoro in the first two rounds and was battling No. 16 Nodirbek Yakubboev of Uzbekistan in the fourth round at press time.

Also in the same group with Pascua were GM Joey Antonio, IMs Jan Emmanuel Garcia and Ricky de Guzman, FM Mari Joseph Turqueza and Michael Concio, Jr.