Laylo tops Antonio, gains share of lead in Nat’l Open

GRANDMASTER Darwin Laylo rebounded strong after absorbing his first loss in the 2012 National Open Chess Championships at the Paraw Club in Boracay.

The former national junior champion defeated erstwhile solo leader GM Rogelio “Joey” Antonio in the seventh round on Thursday to grab a share of the lead in the event dubbed as “Battle of the Grandmasters.”

Laylo, who lost to GM Julio Catalino Sadorra in the sixth round, caught Antonio on top with 10.0 points. International Master Oliver Dimakiling joined them there by beating GM John Paul Gomez while GMs Eugene Torre and Mark Paragua were a point behind with 9.0 points.

Torre scalped FIDE Master Randy Segarra while Paragua toppled GM Rogelio Barcenilla. The streaking Sadorra moved to solo sixth with 8.5 points following his conquest of GM Roland Salvador.

The top three finishers will gain outright seats in the men’s national team competing in this year’s World Chess Olympiad in Istanbul, Turkey on Aug. 27 to Sept. 10.

Top Filipino player GM Wesley So (Elo 2650) is already seeded to the nat’l team while the NCFP has the option to pick the fifth player of the men’s team.  /Correspondent Marlon Bernardino