DAVAO City bets struggled after the fourth round but Ella Grace Moulic stayed within striking distance to remain in contention for the girls 20 title of the ongoing 19th Asean+ Age Group Chess Championships in The Royal Mandaya Hotel as of Thursday, June 21.

Moulic earned a total of three points after four rounds, bowing to WFM Shania Mendoza in their fourth round match. But still the Dabawenya ranked third and joined the rest of the leaders in her division.

Top seed National Master (NM) Alex Lupian, who led in the first three rounds, also dropped to third 2.5 points after losing to Minh Thang Nguyen of Vietnam in the senior 50 and senior 65.

From fourth place, three-pointer Irish Yngayo was relegated to fifth in girls 16 division. She drew with Natasja Jasmine Balabbo.

Japeth Aaron Caresosa, meanwhile, improved to sixth place with 2.5 points but lost his recent match against Fide Master (FM) Alekhine Nouri in open 16 division.

Top seed International Master (IM) John Marvin Miciano, however,

occupied the ninth spot with 2.5 points even after beating Hyung Tuan Hai Nguyen of Vietnam in open 20 event.

Samantha Umayan, who lost her round four match with Kimberly Colaste in girls 12 class, tallied two points to place 10th.

Dabawenyo Kurt John Placencia was also 10th with 2.5 points after drawing with Van Dat Nguyen of Vietnam in open 16 division.

Blanch Ellyze Bongato trailed at 13th spot with 2.5 points although she outclassed Marian Calimbo yesterday in girls 16.

University of Mindanao's Zsuzsa Grace Tabudlong also placed 13th in girls 20 division with only one point. She lost to Kylen Joy Mordido yesterday.

Francis Xavier Guimalan, meanwhile, has 1.5 points. He is currently at 14th spot after he defeated Charles John Fiel in open 18.

Queen Peralta, for her part, succumbed to Alphecca Gonzales to land at 16th place with two points in girls 16.

Fifth round matches were ongoing as of this writing.