Yap leads into final round of Cebu City chess

CEBU, Philippines - IM Kim Steven Yap is on top of the leaderboard heading into the final round of the Cebu City Masters Chess Cham-pionship 2011 the other day at the Deep Blue Chess Club in SM City-Cebu.

So far, Yap garnered 6.0 points after fending off the Singapore-based chess trainer Eric Gloria and Richard Natividad in the seventh and eighth round of the five-day tournament.

IM Enrico Sevillano occupied the second spot with 5.0 points, while Gloria, Rommel Ganzon and Eden Diano are at joint fourth.

Completing the top 10 were Richard Natividad, Anthony Makinano, Enriquez, Merben Roque and Voltaire Sevillano.

Yap needs only to beat Rogelio Enriquez to take home the championship.

Aside from trophy, the champion will get P10,000, while the second and third placers will receive P5,000 and P3,000, respectively. The fourth will get P2,000, while the fifth to 10 finishers will each pocket P1,000. (FREEMAN)