TAGAYTAY City —  Defending champion IM Efren Bagamasbad played well even with the disadvantageous  black pieces  to roll back comebacking FM Antonio Molina and keep the lead with a perfect score of four points in the 65-year-old and above category in the 12th Asian Seniors Chess Championships at the Knights Templar Hotel here.

Bagamasbad, who captured the title during the 11th edition held in New Zealand last year, outwitted Molina in a keenly-watched board one encounter to tighten his grip on the solo lead with four straight victories in the nine-round competition hosted by Tagaytay City government, led by  Mayor Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, and sanctioned by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP), headed by Chairman/President Prospero “Butch” Pichay The 67-year-old  Bagamasbad, who is set to represent the country in the 2023 World Seniors in Terrasini, Italy on Oct. 24-Nov. 6,  is now a full point ahead of IM Aitkazy Baimurzin  of Kazakhstan and Filipinos FM Adrian Pacis and Mario Mangubat.

Baimurzin defeated Quirino Sagatio, Pacis bested Joselito Dormitorio and Mangubat humbled Miles Patterson of Australia to boost their respective  chances with three points.

In solo fifth place is Sagario with 2.5 points.

In the 50-above category, former Asian Seniors champion IM Chito Garma battled to  a fighting draw with top seed GM Rogelio Antonio, Jr  to  maintain the lead with 3.5 points on three wins and one draw.

Galymzhan Ibrayev of Kazakhstan overwhelmed Ricky Navalta, while FM Rudin Hamdani  of Indonesia toppled IM Angelo Young to join Antonio in second to fourth places.

Female CM Hellen Milligan of New Zealand outduelled FM Edgardo Garma, IM Barlo Nadera  trounced Joseph Ebenezer of India  and IM Enrique Paciencia of Singapore crushed George Ulsano to move up to a share of fifth to eighth places with Young with 2.5 points.

At stake are  guaranteed  cash prizes amounting  to $3,000 with the champion  getting the lion’s share of  US$500.

The runner-up and third placer will earn $400 and $300, respectively.

The top three placers will also receive gold, silver and bronze medals, respectively.

Mike Lapitan is the tournament director while Casto “Toti” Abundo  is the supervising arbiter.

Standings after four rounds:

50-above

3.5 points — C. Garma 3 — R. Antonio, G. Ibrayev (Kazakhstan), R. Hamdani (Indonesia) 2.5 — A. Young, H. Milligan (New Zealand), E. Paciencia (Singapore), B. Nadera 2 —  A. Ismail (Malaysia), E. Garma, R. Navalta

65-above

4 — E. Bagamasbad
3 — A. Baimurzin (Kazakhstan), A. Pacis, M.Mangubat.
2.5 — A. Molina
2 –M. Patterson (Australia),  L. Dormitorio, Q. Sagario, K. H. Lim  (Malaysia), P. Srivatanakul (Thailand)