EDGAR Reggie Olay stunned another higher-ranked player in Rajpara Ankit of Indonesia, but got stalled somewhat after absorbing a heartbreaking defeat at the hands of Filipino GM Jayson Gonzales in the 1st Campomanes Memorial Cup Open Chess Tournament at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The 34-year-old Olay, who hails from Kidapawan City, followed up his huge victory over Ankit in the fourth round with a draw with Yiping Lou of China in the fifth.
Playing Gonzales in the sixth round, Olay succumbed to stay at three points with three more rounds to go in a strong field full of grandmasters.
It was a sweet revenge for Gonzales against Olay, who beat him in the final round of the 6th Prospero Pichay Cup just a week ago.
Olay was to play GM Kivanc Haznedaroglu of Turkey in the seventh round.
The Mindanao player is gunning for his third and final International Master norm, having secured his first in 2008 and the second in the Pichay Cup where he ended up with 5.5 points.
GM Jun Zhao of China gained the solo lead in the Campomanes event with 5.5 points after seven rounds, a full point up on nine other players that include GM Wesley So of the Philippines.