Laylo wrests solo Asian Zonals lead

Manila, Philippines - GM Darwin Laylo outplayed IM Nguyen Van Huy of Vietnam in a tense third round duel to grab the solo lead in the Asian Zonals 3.3 chess championships at the Tagaytay International Convention Center in Tagaytay last Wednesday.

It was Laylo’s third straight victory as he moved in front, half-a-point ahead of fellow Filipino bets GM Mark Paragua and IM Oliver Barbosa, Vietnam’s Cao Sang and Nguyen Anh Dung.

Paragua and Barbosa split the point to drop to joint second with 2.5 points while GMs Eugene Torre, Joey Antonio and John Paul Gomez are in the two-pointer group.

The top two placers after nine rounds will gain berths in this year’s World Cup slated in November in Russia.

Cao whipped GM Cerdas Barus of Indonesia, while Nguyen trounced IM Oliver Dimakiling.

Torre outclassed Reggie Olay, reigning national junior champion Mari Joseph Turqueza stunned IM Dede Liu of Indonesia and Alcon John Datu dumped IM Tirto of Indonesia in the tournament organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP), headed by Butch Pichay in cooperation with the Tagaytay City government thru Mayor Bambol Tolentino.

Antonio drew with IM Nguyen Huynh Minh Huy of Vietnam and Gomez also halved the point with IM Wei Ming Goh of Singapore.

Top seed GM Zhang Zhong of Singapore outplayed FM Anjas Novita of Indonesia and GM Susanto Megaranto of Indonesia drew with FM Nguyen Duc Hoa of Vietnam to join the two-pointers group.

Newly crowned Asian Youth boys 16-under-gold medalist Jan Emmanuel Garcia held No. 8 seed GM Dao Thien Hai of Vietnam to a draw to improve to 1.5 points.

In women’s play, WGM Irine Kharisma Sukandar of Indonesia beat WIM Le Kieu Thien Kim of Vietnam to likewise wrest the solo lead with three points. 

Altanulzi Enkhtuul of Mongolia outclassed WIM Hoang Thi Nhu of Vietnam to share second to fourth places with WGM Le Thanh Thu of Vietnam and Uuganbayar Lkhamsuren of Mongolia with 2.5 points apiece.

Dresden Olympiad veteran Christy Lamiel Bernales bested compatriot Rulp Ylem Jose in an all-Filipina showdown to share fifth place with two points.

WFM Cheradee Chardine Camacho split the point withWGM Hoang Thi Bao Tram of Vietnam to keep her hopes alive for the lone slot to the women’s world chess championship at stake.