Grandmaster John Paul Gomez drew with International Master Jem Garcia in 30 moves of a Ruy Lopez  to remain unshakeable at the helm after nine rounds of the Philippine National Open Chess Championship Grand Finals in Alicia, Isabela on Monday night, Oct. 28.

It was the second straight draw for the 38-year-old Biñan, Laguna native as he also split the point with IM Paulo Bersamina in the eighth round the same day that kept him alone at No. 1 with 7.5 points.

Gomez was battling Daniel Quizon and local bet IM Joel Banawa in the last two rounds on Tuesday, Oct. 29, with the goal of topping this event and claiming a ticket to next year’s Southeast Asian Games in Thailand, as well as pocketing the top purse worth P120,000 courtesy of host Alicia Mayor Joel Amos Alejandro.

It will also be Gomez’s third national title after emerging champion in 2008 and 2013.

But Gomez saw his once mighty 1.5-point lead cut to a point as he now has three rivals with 6.5 points to show lurking behind him—Garcia, Bersamina and Quizon.

Bersamina smashed FIDE Master Mark Jay Bacojo in 30 moves while Quizon turned back Phil Martin Casiguran in 45 moves with both games fought via the Sicilian Defense.

It was Quizon’s fourth win in a row after starting this meet with two early defeats to Bersamina and Bacojo.

At joint fifth were Bacojo and IM Ricky de Guzman, who trampled Alexis Emil Maribao in 57 moves of a Three Knights Game, with 5.5 points each.