GM Laylo nears Pichay chess crown

Standings after round 8
7.0 pts — GM Darwin Laylo (Philippines)
6.0 pts — GM David Arutinian (Georgia), GM Susanto Megaranto (Indonesia), GM Wen Yang (China), GM Li Shilong (China), Lu Shanglei (China)
5.5 pts — GM John Paul Gomez (PH), GM Mark Paragua (PH), IM Oliver Barbosa (PH), IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia (PH), GM Merab Gagunashvili (Georgia), GM Zhang Zhong (Singapore), GM Xu Jun (China), Ma Qun (China), Xiu Deshun (China)

Filipino grandmaster Darwin Laylo settled for a crucial draw with Georgian GM David Arutinian in yesterday’s 8th round to retain his full-point lead in the Chairman Prospero Pichay Cup Chess Championships at the Travelers Hotel in Subic.

The game lasted for 30 moves of a Slav defense with Laylo using white.

“Nag offer siya ng draw dahil kagaya ko ay gusto niya ding makapag pahinga at sa last two rounds ay itotodo na ang lahat,” said Laylo.

Laylo raised his total to 7.0 points on six wins and two draws. He is one point ahead of five others including Arutinian.

Arutinian is tied with reigning Asian Zone 3.3 chess champion GM Susanto Megaranto of Indonesia, GM Wen Yang, GM Li Shilong and Lu Shanglei of China.

Megaranto routed IM Rolando Nolte of the Philippines, Wen beat Cebuano IM Richard Bitoon, Li drew with GM Zhang Zhong of Singapore and Lu upset Asia’s First GM Eugene Torre of the Philippines.

In the ninth round, Laylo will handle the white pieces against Li in their top board encounter in the 10-round event which offers $6,000 to the champion.

Meanwhile, newly minted IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia of the Philippines drew with GM Xu Jun of China to fortify his bid for a GM norm. Garcia, the 2011 Asian Youth Under 16 champion tallied 5.5 points and shred 7th to 15th spots with Xu, Zhang, compatriots GM John Paul Gomez, GM Mark Paragua and IM Oliver Barbosa, GM Merab Gagunashvili of Georgia, Ma Qun and Xiu Deshun of China.