Laylo nears national chess title

MANILA, Philippines — Filipino Grandmaster Darwin Laylo is rekindling the fire that made him national champion twice almost two decades ago.

With a round to go in the National Chess Championships, the 42-year-old Laylo is a game away from claiming his first national crown in 17 years and third overall as he leads the annual meet in Malolos, Bulacan.

The Army man from Marikina split the point with International Master Jan Emmanuel Garcia, his closest combatant, in a 36-move standoff of a timid English encounter in the eighth and penultimate round yesterday that kept his iron grip of the solo lead with six points.