Antonio draws with England’s Short in Negros Open chess tiff

MANILA, Philippines – Filipino Grandmaster Joey Antonio couldn’t get anything out of a winning position and drew with top seed GM Nigel Short of England in 31 moves of an English Opening to stay on top after five rounds of the Piaya Network 2017 Negros International Open Chess tournament at the Ikthus Osbron Hall in Bacolod City Tuesday.

Playing black, the 55-year-old Antonio outplayed the 52-year-old former World Challenger in the opening. But in the end, he decided to just split the point with Short knowing it will still keep the latter the lead with 4.5 points.

Short, who last visited the country in the World Chess Olympiad 25 years ago, remained at second spot with four points alongside GM Nguyen Duc Hoa of Vietnam, Srinath Narayanan of India and Cebu bet Edsel Montoya.

Nguyen and Narayanan drew in 31 moves of a Four Knights Game while Montoya outlasted Ellan Aseula in 63 moves of an English.

A full point off the pace with 3.5 points was a big group headed by International Master Ronald Dableo and Emmanuel Emperado, who battled to a marathon 86-move draw of a Slav game.

Also in that pack was second seed Armenian GM Karen Grigoryan, who turned back FIDE Master Roel Ablegas in 31 moves of a Trompovsky Attack.