Laylo smothers Chinese GM, moves full point ahead

MANILA, Philippines - GM Darwin Laylo trounced Chinese GM Xu Jun in a crucial seventh round victory as he remained on top in the Chairman Prospero “Butch” Pichay Cup Chess Championship at the Subic Bay Travellers Hotel in Subic yesterday.

Laylo, who settled for a draw with top seed GM Merab Gagunashvili of Georgia in the sixth round, pulled off the victory after 30 moves of a Gruenfeld to hike his output to 6.5 points with three rounds remaining in the 10-round tournament.

That was a full point ahead of Georgian GM David Arutinian, who beat GM John Paul Gomez in the sixth round and then drew with Chinese GM Wen Yang for 5.5 points.

Still playing at presstime are Gagunashvili against GM Li Shilong of China, and GM Zhang Zhong of Singapore versus IM Richard Bitoon of the Philippines. All four players tote 4.5 points.

In the sixth round, Laylo, out to atone for his failed bid in last week’s Asian Zonals, and Gagunashvili halved the point after 31 moves of a Slav.

The draw snapped Laylo’s five-game winning streak in the nine-round tournament organized by the National Chess Federation of the Phl and supported by the Philippine Sports Commission.

Arutinian subdued Gomez, while Xu whipped compatriot Lu Shanglei in the other top sixth round encounter.

Bitoon defeated NM Alex Milagrosa in an all-Filipino encounter to move into a tie for fourth with 4.5 points with Gagunashvili, GM Zhang Zhong of Singapore, GM Wen Yang of China, GM Liu Shilong of China and Ma Qun of China.

FM Haridas Pascua pulled the rug from under Zheng Chongseng of China, IM Oliver Barbosa downed Anjas Novita of Indonesia and IM Rolando Nolte outwitted IM Chito Garma to hike their totals to four points.

GM Eugene Torre split the point with Asian Youth gold medalist IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia and IM Oliver Dimakiling halved the point with Megaranto to join the four-pointers group.

Third seed GM Rogelio Antonio Jr. also settled for a draw with WGM Irine Kharisma Sukandar of Indonesia to lead a big group of 3.5 pointers.