Endgame brilliance lifts Aquino past seeded Viet

MANILA, Philippines - Prince Mark Aquino surprised seventh seed Nguyen Van Hai of Vietnam with an endgame manuever to score a 68-move victory in the third round of the Asian Youth Chess Championships at the Subic Bay Travelers Hotel in Subic yesterday.

Aquino, 16, outwitted Van Hai in a tense rook and bishop endgame of a Gruenfeld to hike his output to 2.5 points in the centerpiece boys’ 18 years old and under category.

Another Filipino campaigner, Alcon John Datu, settled for a draw with   Rajpara Ankit of India for 1.5 points.

Cheradee Camacho whipped Ulzii Enkhtuul of Mongolia while Jan Fronda outplayed Nuraiym Kubanaly of Kyrgyzstan in the girls’ 18 under class.

Christine Joyce Laz, however, bowed to Hongyan Liu of China and Mikee Suede lost to Supeshala Thilakawandala of Sri Lanka.

In other results, Jan Emmanuel Garcia demolished Ranjan Utkal Sahoo of India in 45 moves of the English Opening to share the lead with Antonio Cunha of India with three points in the boys’ 16-under side.

Cunha, one of four Indians in the 24-player field, beat Paul Robert Evangelista.

Cherry Ann Mejia, meanwhile, halved the point with Xiao Yiyi of China to stay in joint second with 2.5 points in the girls’ 16 under class.