Asian Zone 3.3 Chess: Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son, Wesley So qualify for World Chess Cup

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012

Hi everyone,

Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son

The last round of the Asian Zone 3.3 Open Championship proved to be a bit of an anti-climax with most of the work already done in the previous eight rounds and so the eagerly watched game between Cao Sang (5) and Wesley So (6.5) was disappointingly for the spectators, a quick draw, but a result that ensured that So became the first World Cup qualifier.

With this, Susanto Megaranto (5.5) and Rogelio Antonio (5.5) who both earlier had an outside chance of qualifying should both leaders lose had little to play for and soon after also agreed to a draw.

However John Paul Gomez (5) and Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son (6.5) was game on from the beginning, Nguyen seizing the opportunity to win and besides taking the remaining qualifying spot, he also become the outright winner.

With this, the top finishers are:1. Nguyen 7.5/9, 2. So 7/9, 3-4. Megaranto, Antonio 6/9. 5-10. Cao Sang, Munkhgal Gombosuren, Darwin Laylo, Mark Paragua, Gundavaa Bayarsaikhan, Eugene Torre 5.5/9

In the Women's Championship, with nothing to lose, Philippine No.1 Catherine Perena won in a long game against already confirmed winner Nguyen Thanh Thi An who desperately wanted to remain undefeated but would still have been happy to be clear first with 6.5/9 and qualifying for the World Championship.

But it was the young sensation Bernadette Galas who impressed again, once again lifting Filipino spirits, this time by beating Hoang Thi Bao Tram and grabbing a share of second and fourth places on 6/9 together with with Medina Warda Aulia who had earlier defeated Nguyen Thi Mai Hung and Pham Le Thao Nguyen who beat Chelsie Monica Shite. (Report by Peter Long)

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GM Chess Boracay Battle: Darwin Laylo, Rogelio in Joint Lead after Round 3

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012


Hi everyone,

GM Darwin Laylo

Grandmasters Darwin Laylo and Rogelio “Joey” Antonio are leading in the fifth Battle of Grandmasters at the Paraw Club in Boracay. Laylo, who caught up with Antonio after beating International Master Oliver Dimakiling in the third round, settled for a draw with National Master Giovanni Mejia while Antonio drew with GM Rogelio Barcenilla.


The two Chess Olympiad veterans were at 6.0 points under the scoring system giving two points for a win, one point for a draw and zero for a loss. Trailing them at 5.0 points were GM Mark Paragua, former co-leaders GM Roland Salvador and Fide Master Randy Segarra and Asia’s first GM Eugene Torre, who held GM John Paul Gomez to a draw in the fourth round. Paragua beat Mejia and IM Emmanuel Senador, respectively. Salvador and Segarra suffered setbacks in the fourth round against Dimakiling and GM Julio Catalino Sadorra, respectively, who climbed to 4.5 points.


The United States-based Sadorra earlier was forced to a stalemate by Barcenilla in the third round to settle for 1.5 points. Barcenilla got 0.5 point and with his draw against Antonio improved to 4.0 points in the company of the top-seeded Barbosa and Gomez.

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Manila Chess Open: GM Darwin Laylo Wins Clear First

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012

Hi everyone,

GM Darwin Laylo has won the 2012 Manila Open Chess Championships for the Mayor’s Cup in Manila. Laylo scored 7.5 points - half a point clear of the field and 12-time National Open champion GM Rogelio Antonio Jr., and former Philippine Junior Champion and Nationa Master (NM) Rolando Andador.
Antonio and Andador got the second and third places, respectively.

 

Darwin Laylo - Champion in Manila

Laylo beat GMs Antonio and Mark Paragua in the final two rounds to clinch the title in the eight-round event supported by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines.

The chess tournament was also part of the Manila 441st founding anniversary celebrations. A veteran participant of the World Chess Olympiad and the World Chess Cup, Laylo is also a member of the Philippine Team that won the silver medal in the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, China.

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GM Darwin Laylo Wins Philippine National Chess Games Open

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012

Hi everyone,



Filipino GM Darwin Laylo of Marikina City grabbed the top spot in the 2012 POC-PSC National Games Open Chess Championships on Thursday in Dumaguete City, Philippines.

In the photo, Laylo (center) receives his certificate from National Chess Federation of the Philippines Executive Director GM Jayson Gonzales. Playing black in the last round, Laylo split the point with erstwhile co-leader IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia to clinch the title in the 7-round tournament.

Laylo collected a total score of 5.5 points. He bagged the gold medal by virtue of higher tie break points against fellow 5.5 pointers including runner-up Garcia, third placer IM Rolando Nolte of Quezon City and fourth placer FM Paulo Bersamina of Pasay City.

"Memorable at magandang pa birthday sa akin ang pagkapanalo ko dito sa POC-PSC National Games Open Chess,"(This victory is a memorable and nice birthday gift for me) said Laylo, who celebrated his 32nd birthday on Friday.

A veteran member in the World Chess Olympiad and World Cup, Laylo is also member of the Philippine Team which captured the silver medal in the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, China.

In the women's division, WNM Jedara Docena of Bohol trounced erstwhile co-leader WNM Janelle Mae Frayna of Legaspi City in the final round to win the gold medal with 6 points.WIM Catherine Perena of Caloocan City nipped two-time National Women's Open Champion WFM Rulp Ylem Jose of Makati City to notch 5.5 points for the silver medal. Frayna, remained at 5.0 points for the bronze medal. -Marlon Bernardino-

(Men's)5.5 points-GM Darwin Laylo (Marikina), IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia (Manila), IM Rolando Nolte (Quezon City), FM Paulo Bersamina (Pasay City)
5.0 points-GM Rogelio Antonio Jr. (Calapan, Oriental Mindoro), Michael Joseph Pagaran (Bohol), GM Eugene Torre (Quezon City), Lennon Heart Salgados (Cagayan de Oro City), NM Joey Albert Florendo (Zamboanga City), Ted Ian Montoyo (Bacolod City)
(Women's)

6.0 points-WNM Jedara Docena (Bohol)
5.5 points-WIM Catherine Perena (Caloocan City)
5.0 points-WNM Janelle Mae Frayna (Legaspi City)
4.5 points-WFM Rulp Ylem Jose (Makati City), Angelina Mortos (Caloocan City)
4.0 points-Eden Tumbos (Bacolod City)

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