GOMEZ BEATS RUSSIAN GM; GRABS LEAD IN ROUND 5 AEROFLOT OPEN CHESS

BY: MARLON BERNARDINO

Individual Standings after round 5: (Group B division)
4.5 points---GM John Paul Gomez (Philippines)
4 points---GM Darwin Laylo (Philippines), GM Tigran Kotanjian (Armenia), GM Alexei Gavrilov (Russia), GM Dorian Rogozenco (Romania), GM Wen Yang (China), GM Zhao Xue (China), Bayarsaikhan Gundavaa (Mongolia)
　
GM John Paul Gomez (in photo) scored back to back wins to wrest the solo lead after the fifth round of the Aeroflot Open chess championship at the Hotel Gamma-Delte in Moscow, Russia on Saturday.

Gomez, a member of the Philippine team which bagged the silver medal in the recent Asian Games in Guangzhou, China, outsmarted overnight solo leader GM Alexei Gavrilov of Russia to notch 4.5 points and remain unbeaten in this tough, 106-player Group B competition that dangles 10,000 euros top prize.

The Binan, Laguna pride Gomez also beat FM Pogos Nakhapetiane of Russia in Friday's fourth round.

GM Darwin Laylo settled for a draw against GM Zhao Xue of China to share second to 8th places with four points in the company of Zhao, Gavrilov, GM Tigran Kotanjian of Armenia, GM Dorian Rogozenco of Romania, GM Wen Yang of China and Bayarsaikhan Gundavaa.IM Richard Bitoon toppled WFM Indira Bajt of Slovakia to stayed in contention in a tie for 21st to 44th place with three points.

In other results, IM Oliver Barbosa brought downed FM Daniel Malek of Germany while IM Oliver Dimakiling was yielded to Moscow Open champion Vladimir Belous of Russia. Barbosa and Dimakiling tallied 2.5 points apiece and was tie for 45th to 66th place.

GM Wesley So settled a truce with GM Stanislav Novikov of Russia for 2 points in Group A while FM Paulo Bersamina defeated WFM Alexandra Nikolaeva of Russia for 3.5 points in Group C.

The RP chessers Aeroflot chess campaign is supported by National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) President/ Chairman Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr. " Hope mahawakan ni John Paul (Gomez) at Darwin (Laylo) ang kanilang momentum sa Aeroflot Open chess sa Moscow," said Pichay, also LWUA head.