GM DARWIN LAYLO TO DEFEND CHESS CROWN; LOOKING TO ANOTHER WORLD CHESS CUP STINT

GRANDMASTER Darwin Laylo, the 2008 Paranaque Open Chess, is set to defend his title on August 15 at SM Sucat Activity Center, 3rd floor Building B, Paranaque City.

Laylo, scored 8.5 points in nine outings to win the 2008 Paranaque Open Chess last November, hosted and sponsored by Mayor Florencio Bernabe.

The San Roque, Marikina City native Laylo, who is currently residing in Lipa City (Batangas) also fresh from winning the Victory Central Mall Open Chess Championships last week.

But before defending his Paranaque  Open Chess title, Laylo, a former World Chess Cup qualifier is looking to another World Chess Championships stint when the Zone 3.3 FIDE World Chess Championships 2009 gets underway on July 22 to 30 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

” Sana mag qualified ulit tayo sa World Chess Cup,” said Laylo, who lost to France champion and super GM Etienne Bacrot in the second round during the 2007 World Chess Cup in Khanty-Mansysky, Russia where he lost to France champion and super GM Etienne Bacrot (2695).

Joining Laylo in the Zone 3.3 are fellow GMs Wesley So, Eugene Torre, Mark Paragua, John Paul Gomez and IM Richard Bitoon.

So far, only lone Filipino World Chess Cup qualifier is GM Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr.

BY: MARLON BERNARDINO.