IM Paulo Bersamina draws with Megaranto for a share of the lead in ASEAN Chess Championships
Filipino International Master Paulo Bersamina continued to carry the fight for the host country as he drew with top seed Grandmaster Susanto Megaranto of Indonesia to remain tied at the helm after eight rounds of the AQ Prime ASEAN Chess Championship at the Great Eastern Hotel in Quezon City Thursday, Feb. 16.

Bersamina halved the point with Megaranto after 32 moves of a Pirc Defense to tie Indonesia on top with five points apiece with three rounds left in this event organized by the Kamatyas Chess Club.
GM Darwin Laylo, who was with Bersamina and Megaranto on top before the round, was currently in a losing position against Indonesian IM Mohamad Ervan at press time.
A defeat would send the reigning national champion spiraling down a group of 4.5 pointers at No. 3 that also included Ervan and GM John Paul Gomez, who split the point with Vietnamese Dau Khuong Duy in 22 moves of a Sicilian Dragon.
IM Daniel Quizon, currently with 3.5 points entering the round, could join that chase pack as he was battling Indonesian IM Yoseph Theofilus Taher also at press time.