Filipino Grandmaster Darwin Laylo finally put his recent frustrations behind by winning the 2011 Chairman Prospero Pichay Cup Chess Championships with a final-round draw yesterday at the Travelers Hotel in Subic Bay Freeport Zone in Olongapo City.
Laylo, who led with two rounds remaining only to suffer consecutive setbacks in the recent Asian Zone 3.3 Championships, drew with Chinese GM Wen Yang in the 10th and final round yesterday to claim the top prize of the Pichay Cup.
Laylo finished with six wins, three draws and one loss to tally 7.5 points, the same score submitted by Wen and GM Li Shilong of China whom he beat in the tiebreak in this tournament organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) headed by chairman/ president Prospero Pichay Jr. and supported by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and the Philippines Sports Commission (PSC).
“Hindi ko na pinilit y’ung last game ko with GM Wen Yang. Nanigurado na lang ako ng magandang placing kasi alam ko na in case mag tie kami sa akin pa din ang Pichay Chess Cup title kasi alam kong mas mataas ang tie break points ko,” said Laylo, who lost to Li in yesterday’s ninth and penultimate round.
Li also drew his final round match against GM David Arutinian of Georgia.
At 4th to 10th place with 7.0 points are Arutinian, GM Xu Jun, Lu Shanglei, Xiu Deshun and Ma Qun of China, GM Susanto Megaranto of Indonesia and GM John Paul Gomez of the Philippines.
Lu who secured a GM norn in the 9th round yesterday, drew with Gomez, while Ma and Xu also settled for a truce. Xiu defeated NM Alcon John Datu of the Philippines while Megaranto routed Zeng Chongseng of China.
Final standings
7.5 pts — GM Darwin Laylo (Philippines), GM Wen Yang (China), GM Li Shilong (China)
7.0 pts — Lu Shanglei (China), GM David Arutinian (Georgia),Ma Qun (China), GM Xu Jun (China), GM John Paul Gomez (PH), GM Susanto Megaranto (Indonesia), Xiu Deshun
6.5 pts — GM Zhang Zhong (Singapore), GM Merab Gagunashvili (Georgia), GM Mark Paragua (PH), GM Eugene Torre (PH), Wang Chen (China), IM Oliver Barbosa (PH), IM Rolando Nolte (PH), Yu Ruiyuan (China)