Lucky San Diego shocks Mongolian foe

Filipina Marie Antoinette San Diego got all the luck in her mammoth 68-move win over Mongolian Woman Grandmaster Altan-Ulzii Enkhtuul to stay at joint second after four rounds in the women’s section of the 7th ASEAN+ Individual Chess Championships at the Amorap in Misamis Occidental Thursday.

Losing on time, position and material, San Diego pulled out all the tactical tricks on her bag in forcing her higher-rated foe to lose her composure and a rook to steal the win in their razor-sharp Catalan showdown.

“She blundered her rook towards the end,” said the 27-year-old Woman International Master from Dasmariñas referring to the former Mongolian national champion.

The result pushed San Diego tied for No. 2 with Indian Woman FIDE Master Shree Reddy Keerti with 3.5 points apiece and half a point behind solo leader in another Indian, WIM Bordoloi Pratitee.

Keerti turned back Filipina WIM Kylen Joy Mordido in 39 moves of a Sicilian while Pratitee bounced Vietnamese GM Nguyen Thi Mai Hung in 41 moves of a French Defense in this weeklong event bankrolled by host Gov. Henry Oaminal Sr. and backed by the PSC and WR Chess.

Enkhtuul was the second WGM caught by San Diego after she pulled the rug from under WGM Janelle Mae Frayna in the opening round last Tuesday.

Also knocking on the leader’s door were Filipinas WIM Ruelle Canino and Woman FIDE Master Shania Mae Mendoza, who have three points each.

Canino made short work of Singaporean WFM Fang Kun in 20 moves of a Slav while Mendoza survived the 18-year-old Ericka Ordizo’s upset try with a 63-move triumph of a Queen’s Gambit game.

FM Alekhine Nouri continued to be the best performing Filipino in the Open section thus far after agreeing to a quick, 14-move split with Thai IM Prin Laohawirapap in their Four Knights encounter.

Also in prime position for a podium finish were GM Darwin Laylo and IMs Pau Bersamina and Michael Concio Jr., who each have two points.