PINOY GM LAYLO, VIETNAMESE BAO SHARE THE LEAD IN ZONE 3.3 CHESS ELIMS

Individual Standings after round 3:
3.0 points—GM Darwin Laylo (RP), Bao Khoa (VIET)
2.5 points— GM WESLEY SO (RP), GM MARK PARAGUA (RP), GM Zhang Zhong (SIN), GM Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son (VIET), FM Timothy Chan (SIN)

FILIPINO GM Darwin Laylo and Vietnamese Bao Khoa beat their respective rivals to share the lead with perfect 3.0 points after the third round of Zone 3.3 Chess Championships yesterday in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Laylo stopped the winning ways of countryman Cebuano IM Richard Bitoon while Bao shocked Indon GM Susanto Megaranto to arranged a fourth round showdown for the solo leadership board.

Country’s top GM Wesley So continued his fine showing by crushing CM Nguyen Van Huy of Vietnam to notch 2.5 points and climb into a share of 3rd to 4th placers
in the company of GM Mark Paragua who drew with GM Zhang Zhong of Singapore,  GM Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son of Vietnam, and FM Timothy Chan of Singapore.

Asia’s First GM Eugene Torre, meanwhile halved the point with FM Batchulun Tsegmed of Mongolia for his 2.0 points and share 8th to 24th placers with Bitoon.

At 25th to 32nd placers is another Filipino IM Rolando Nolte who post his third straight draw to raise his total 1.5 points. He drew with FM Ton That Nhu Tung of Vietnam.

In the distaff side, WFM Shercila Cua bested WFM Ton Nu Hong An of Vietnam for her 1.5 points, the same output of her sister WFM Sherily Cua, who split the point with WFM Victoria Chan of Singapore.

WNM Daisy Rivera lost to WGM Nguyen Thi Than An of Vietnam as well WFM Catherine Perena who bowed to WGM Munguntuul Batkhuyag of Mongolia.

NCFP president Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr., is confident that the Filipino mens woodpushers can took the two slot for this year’s World Cup (Fide World Chess Championships) in Khanty, Mansiyk, Russia on Nov. 20 to Dec. 15. Lone Filipino World Cup qualifier is GM Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr. who made it to the top 5 of Asian Continental Individual Chess in Subic.

BY: MARLON BERNARDINO.