So, Antonio, Laylo lead cast in RP Open

MANILA, Philippines - The best and the brightest in local chess, led by World Cup-bound GMs Wesley So, Rogelio Antonio Jr. and Darwin Laylo, have already confirmed their participation in the Mayor Tinnex Jaraula-Butch Pichay Cup National Open chess championship slated Aug. 21-26 at the City Tourism Hall in Cagayan de Oro City Hall.

The participation of So, Antonio and Laylo in the tough, six-day tournament will serve as part of their buildup for the World Chess Cup in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia later this year.

“With almost all the country’s leading players in attendance, the National Open in Cagayan will be a good training ground for Wesley, Joey and Darwin for the World Cup,” said Pichay.

The tournament is organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) in cooperation with the Cagayan de Oro government.

The other players competing are GMs Eugene Torre, Mark Paragua, John Paul Gomez, Jayson Gonzales and Bong Villamayor and IMs Richard Bitoon, Rolando Nolte, Julio Catalino Sadorra, Oliver Dimakiling, Ronald Dableo, Chito Garma and Ronald Bancod with more than P600,000 in cash prizes at stake.