So, Laylo charge back in Pichay Cup chess
abs-cbnNEWS.com | 09/17/2008 8:16 PM
Printer-friendly version | 
Send to friend | 
Share your views
Scores after five rounds:
(RP unless stated)
4.5 points -- S. Li (China)
4 points -- Z. Zhong (Singapore), M. Mchedlishvili (Georgia), S. Luldachev (Uzbekistan)
3.5 points – W. So, M. Paragua, D. Laylo, M. Kazhgaleyev (Kazakhstan), M. Dzhumaev (Uzbekistan), E. Ghaemmaghami (Iran), Y. Wen (China), W. Zhou (China), Y. Wan (China)
3 points -- J. Gonzales, R. Bitoon, R. Nolte, J. Gomez, J. Sadorra, P. Roca, B. Villamayor, R. Bancod, K. Yap, B. Nadera, S. Megaranto (Indonesia), K. Shanava (Geogia), N.G. Truong Son (Vietnam), Z. Zhang (China), D.T. Hai (Vietnam), K. Yang (china), N.A. Dung (Vietnam), D. Xiu (China)
Grandmasters (GMs) Wesley So and Darwin Laylo charged back with a vengeance in the fifth round of the 4th Prospero Pichay Cup international chess championship, beating their respective rivals at the Duty Free Fiesta Mall in Parañaque City.
So defeated Li Wang of China in the fifth round to improve his tournament record to three wins, one draw and one loss (3.5 points).
The 14-year-old chess prodigy, who is set to play top board for the Philippine team to the World Chess Olympiad in Dresden, Germany, is seeking to bounce back from a mediocre showing in the recent President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Cup.
Laylo, on the other hand, trounced international master (IM) Aleksander Wohl of Australia to join So, GM Mark Paragua and seven other foreign players with 3.5 points.
Paragua settled for a quick draw with fourth seed GM Ehsan Ghaemmaghami of Iran after only 10 moves of the Philidor.
The three Filipino players are a full point behind solo leader GM Li Shilong of China and half point behind second seed GM Zhang Zhong of Singapore, GM Mikheil Mchedlishvili of Georgia and GM Saidali Iuldachev of Uzbekistan.
Li, one of 13 foreign GMs in the 68-man field, pulled the rug from under top seed Gm Murtas Kazhgaleyev of Kazakhstan in 34 moves of the Gruenfeld to raise his total to 4.5 points and lead the hunt for the $5,000 top prize.
Aside from So, Laylo and Paragua, the other Filipino players who kept their hopes alive after the fifth round were GM Buenaventura "Bong" Villamayor, who dumped Haridas Pascua; IM Rolando Nolte, who outclassed Hamed Nouri; IM Julio Catalino Sadorra, who demolished Ernesto Fernandez; IM Barlo Nadera, who outplayed IM Oliver Dimakiling; IM John Paul Gomez, who drew with GM Nguyen Anh Dung of Vietnam; IM-candidate Kim Steven Yap, who halved the point with GM Susanto Megaranto of Indonesia; and IM Ronald Bancod, who split the point with GM Dao Thien Hai of Vietnam.
