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Standings 7th round
5.5 points--- GM Mikhael Michedlishvili (Georgia), GM Ehsan Ghaem Maghami (Iran)
5.0 points--- GM Darwin Laylo (RP), GM Rogelio Antonio Jr. (RP), GM Mark Paragua (RP), GM Zhang Zhong (Singapore), GM Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son (Vietnam), GM Merab Gagunashvili (Georgia), GM Anuar Ismagambetov (Kazakhstan)
World Chess Cup-bound GM Rogelio ?Joey? Antonio Jr. turned back compatriot GM John Paul Gomez in yesterday?s 7th round to gain a share of third place along with six others in the 5th Prospero A. Pichay, Jr. Cup Chess Championship at the Local Water Utilities Administration bldg in Quezon City.
The win raised Antonio?s total to 5.0 points, the same output of compatriots GMs Darwin Laylo and Mark Paragua, GM Zhang Zhong of Singapore, GM Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son of Vietnam, GM Merab Gagunashvili of Georgia and GM Anuar Ismagambetov of Kazakhstan, his penultimate round opponent.
?Krusyal ?yung pagkapanalo ko kay JP (GM John Paul Gomez), para may chance pa sa title going to the last two rounds,? said Antonio, who rebounded from a loss to top seed Georgian GM Mikhael Michedlishvili (2613) in Monday?s 6th round.
Michedlishvili, the overnight solo leader, halved the point with Singaporean GM Zhang Zhong (2606) to score 5.5 points and tie for 1st to 2nd places with Iranian GM Ehsan Ghaem Maghami, who beat GM Eugene Torre yesterday.
In the 8th round last night, Laylo met Zhang, Ismagambetov battled Antonio and Gupta faced Paragua.
In other 7th round results, Laylo drew with Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son, Paragua drew with Gagunashvili while IM Richard Bitoon from Medellin, Cebu, beat NM David Elorta to stay on track for his 3rd and final GM norm. He has 4.5 points.
