Antonio outwits Laylo, shares lead

Grandmaster Rogelio Antonio Jr. downed National Master Darwin Laylo of Marikina City in 55 moves of a Center Counter game yesterday to gain a share of the lead in the ninth round of the National Open Chess Championships at the SSS Building in Quezon City.

Antonio gained a material advantage early as the 20-year-old Laylo gambled on a kingside attack that fizzled out at endgame. The victory was Antonio’s fifth against a loss as he joined fellow GM Eugene Torre, International Master Richard Bitoon and NM Allan Sayson at the helm.

Torre, playing with a high level of confidence after struggling in the last two years due to lack of tournaments, settled for a 41-move draw with NM Idelfonso Datu, the elims topnotcher, in a Ruy Lopez encounter.

Bitoon and Sayson clashed in a slambang Sicilian encounter but agreed to halve the point just the same after 39 moves.

Also staying in the hunt for the five Asian Zone 3.2a berths staked in this round robin final are NM Jayson Gonzales, FIDE Master Chito Garma, and GM Buenaventura Villamayor, who beat Jessie Noel Sales.

In the distaff side, WIM Beverly Mendoza drew with Jonalyn Torres of Camarines Norte to remain on top with 7.5 points while Joan Toledo moved half a point behind her after stunning many-time national champion Cristine Rose Mariano.

Tournament sensation Rusela Joya of Palawan moved up to third place as she downed Daisy Rivera of University of the East in 57 moves of another Sicilian.

Joya, 19, and playing her first national tournament, is eyeing to sweep her remaining two games to clinch one of the two slots available in the women’s side of the Asian Zonals.