BAD DAY FOR RP CHESSERS

MANILA, PHILIPPINES—International Masters Richard Bitoon and Julio Catalino Sadorra failed in their bids to share a third place in the fifth round Thursday of the 2nd Subic International Open Chess Championship in Subic.

The former Philippine Navy stalwart Bitoon bowed to Iranian GM Ehsan Ghaem Maghami  for his second straight loses while Sadorra was yielded to Vietnamese GM Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son.
Bitoon, earlier won his first three matches of play before losing to Indian GM Deepan Chakravarthy in Wednesday’s fourth round. Sadorra, meanwhile upset Bangladesh GM Niaz Murshed before losing to Ngoc Truong Son.

Chakravathy, on the other hand settled a truce with over-night co leader Chinese Xiu Deshun to create a three-way tie at first place with Viet GM Dao Thien Hai, who brought downed Indian GM Surya Shekhar Ganguly, who is fresh from winning the Asian Continental individual chess championship last week.
The trio (Chakravarthy, Deshun and Dao) tallied 4.5 points each. GM Darwin Laylo, meanwhile halved the point with Chinese IM Zhang Ziyang to raised his total 3.0 points.-MARLON BERNARDINO-