Gomez cops chess crown

National Master John Paul Gomez humbled defending champion Darwin Laylo in the final round yesterday then banked on better tiebreak points to win the Union Insurance Philippine junior chess championship at the Ever Gotesco Commonwealth in Quezon City.

The 13-year-old Gomez, a high school student from Biñan, Laguna and one of the country's youngest NMs, outplayed Laylo in a Sicilian Defense to prevail in 27 moves. He wound up with seven points and a Buccholz tiebreak points of 52 in the nine-round Swiss System tournament sponsored by Union Insurance and hosted by the Ever Group of Stores in cooperation with the Philippine Chess Federation.

NM Rhobel Legaspi also came up with seven points after beating Roland Salvador in 49 moves of a King's Indian, but the Mapua Institute of Technology student settled for second with 48 tiebreak points.

In the girls' event, NWM Beverly Mendoza of Cabanatuan City drew her final round match with Cristine Espallardo to clinch the girls' title with 7.5 points. Espallardo finished second with seven points, while Cristine Castellano placed third with 6.5 points.

The top 10 finishers in each division will receive their prizes at 1:30 p.m. today during the awards rites at the Ever Gotesco Ortigas Complex in Pasig City, which coincides with the opening of the National kiddies chess championships at 2 p.m. at the Cinema 8 of the complex.

Philippine Chess Federation chairman Arturo A. Borjal, PCF president Jesus I. Ingeniero and Noemi Sta. Maria, advertising and promotions head of the Ever Group of Stores have been invited to open the nine-day chess tournament which will choose the country's representatives to the Asean and World Youth Chess Festivals set late this year. The tournament is open to all chess players, 14-years-old and below.