Cebu's Kim Yap shocks GM candidate Gonzales

National Master Darwin Laylo of Marikina City kept his hold of the solo lead, but it was Cebuano prodigy Kim Steven Yap who made the strongest impact after eight rounds of action in the 2006 National Chess Championship Finals at the Market Shopping Mall in Mandaluyong City.

Laylo crushed fellow NM Roderick Nava of Carmona, Cavite after 46 moves of a Reti Opening to stay on top of the heap with 7.0 points.

Kim Yap, however, practically stole the thunder as the University of San Carlos top player gunned down GM candidate Jayson Gonzales before settling for a draw with FIDE Master Jesse Noel Sales.

Yap now has 6.0 points in a seven-way logjam with tournament heavyweights GM Buenaventura "Bong" Villamor, IM Ronald Dableo, IM Petronio Roca, FM Wesley So, NM Ronald Nolte and NM Julius Joseph de Ramos.

" I hope magpatuloy-tuloy ang magandang nilalaro ko," said Kim Steven, son of international arbiter Lincoln Yap who is now based in Singapore.

In a four-way traffic at second place with 6.5 points apiece were FM Oliver Dimakiling, FM Jesse Noel Sales, NM John Paul Gomez and NM Mirabeau Maga.

The top three finishers in the four-day chessfest organized by the Nwill form part of the six-man RP Team that will compete in the XXVII Chess Olympiad next month in Turin, Italy.

In the distaff side, WIM Sheerie Joy Lomibao of Quezon City outlasted Chardine Charadee Camacho ng Caba, La Union in 30 moves of a Torre Attack Opening to accumulate 6.5 points, so far.

Lomibao, thus, earned a share of the lead with WNM Catherine Perena of Caloocan City, sisters WNMs Sherily and Shercilla Cua of Quezon City and WNM Loreshyl Cuizon of Cagayan de Oro City.