NATIONAL Master (NM) Alexander Lupian of Davao City stayed unbeaten after four rounds to grab the top spot in the seniors 50 and seniors 65 rapid event of the ongoing 19th Asean+ Age Groups Chess Championships held at The Royal Mandaya Hotel as of Tuesday, June 26.
Lupian outplayed Fide Master (FM) Adrian Pacis in fourth round after eking out victories over Cesar Caturla, Thai Thung Tong, and Thein Vi Le of Vietnam in the first three rounds.
Trailing behind were Gatus (3.5), Alexander Milagrosa (3.0) and Pacis (3.0) who occupied the next three places as of Tuesday.
The Dabawenyo national master, who won a gold medal in the standard event, is three wins away in doubling his feat.
Lupian will play Edmundo Gatus next.
International Master (IM) John Marvin Miciano of Far Eastern University (FEU) remains in contention with 3.0 points after four rounds.
Miciano, who beat Rhenzi Kyle Sevillano in round four, held the fourth spot behind fellow three-pointers Huynh Tuan Hai Nguyen of Vietnam, Rhenzi Kyle Sevillano and IM Paulo Bersamino, who led the under 20 division, respectively.
Standard event silver medalist Ella Grace Moulic tallied 2.5 points after outclassing Marife Dela Torre to place fifth in girls 20 event, trailing behind division leaders WFM Thi Minh Oanh Nguyen (3.5), WFM Thi Dieu Ai Vu (3.0), WFM Shania Mae Medoza (3.0), and WFM Dita Karenza (3.0).
The fifth round of the rapid event was being played as of Tuesday.
