Laylo among 10 Asians to play in World Chess Cup

Filipino grandmaster-elect Darwin Laylo is not only richer by $7,967 but he's also among the 10 Asians who will vie in the prestigious FIDE World Chess Cup to be held in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia, from November 22 to December 15. According to a statement released by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP), Laylo is the first Filipino to advance to the World Chess Cup by hurdling the tough 11-round Asian Individual Chess Championship, which is the qualifying tournament for the FIDE event. From the tournament, held in Mandaue City, Laylo pocketed $2,167 for finishing in a tie for third to eighth places with 7.5 points. But he's also assured of getting an appearance fee of $4,800 at the World Chess Cup. On top of that, he also got $1,000 as incentive from NCFP president Prospero "Butch" Pichay for becoming the seventh Filipino GM. The 27-year-old Laylo is the first player to achieve the GM title since Pichay took over NCFP head. The total of $7,967 is about P358,000. If he's lucky enough, the prize money will become double if he makes it to the next round in the Wimbledon-style knockout format. The money gets even bigger as he progresses into the next round all the way to the quarterfinal phase. "Wala na akong mahihiling pa," Laylo said. Laylo, son of a former tricycle driver from Lipa City, is a business management graduate of San Sebastian College. The Mandaue chess event was his comeback after a a six-month suspension for his alleged role in a game-fixing controversy last year. "The suspension did not stop me from playing chess. In fact, I even tried to learn a lesson from it in order to become a better player," said Laylo, whose eight-move, final-round draw with eventual champion GM Zhang Pengxiang of China clinched for him a slot to the World Cup. Two days earlier, Laylo's similar eight-move draw with GM Zhao Jun of China assured him of his third and final GM result. Zhang and Wang Hao finished in a two-way tie for first place with eight points and split the combined $11,000 for first and second places. The other seven players who earned a ticket to World Chess Cup are: • GM Abhijit Kunte of India • GM Zhao Jun of China • GM Susanto Megaranto of Indonesia • IM Wen Yang of China • GM G.N. Gopal of India • IM Enamul Hossain of Bangladesh • GM Zhao Jianchao of China Filipoino GM Rogelio Antonio Jr. settled for a draw with Megaranto of Indonesia, finishing in a tie for ninth to 12th places with Gopal Hossain, GM Mohammad Al-Modiahki of Qatar, and GM G. Rohit of India with seven points. But Antonio, the country's second highest-rated player, finished only 11th after the tiebreak. The 31st-seeded Hossain (ELO 2485) and the 19th-seeded Antonio (ELO 2532) had similar scores of 25008 in the first tiebreak. But Hossain, who defeated GM Chakravarthy Deepan of India in the final round, beat Antonio in the second tiebreak, 2529-2504. GM-candidate Wesley So, who is scheduled to represent the country in the World Junior Chess Championship in Yerevan, Armenia, starting October 2, halved the point with GM Dao Thien Hai of Vietnam after only 15 moves of the Queen's Indian to finish 23rd overall with six points. Asia's first GM Eugene Torre outduelled FM Tsegmed Bathculuun of Mongolia while GM Mark Paragua drew with GM Chanda Sandipan of India in only eight moves of a Sicilian Defense to finish 27th and 29th, respectively. IM Oliver Dimakiling won over GM Alexey Kim fo Korea to finish 31st. Final standings (after tiebreak): 8 points P. Zhang (China), H. Wang (China) 7.5 points A. Kunte (India), J. Zhao (China), S. Megaranto (Indonesia), Y. Wen (China), D. Laylo (RP), J. Zhou (China) 7 points G. Gopal (India), E. Hossain (Bangladesh), R. Antonio (RP), M. Al-Modiahki (Qatar) G. Rohit (India) 6.5 points A. Filippov (Uzbekistan), C. Li (China), H. Ni (China), S. Yu (China), S. Li (China), S. Ganguly (India), N.A. Dung (Vietnam) 6 points C. Deepan (India), M. Mahjoobzardast (Iran), W. So (RP), U. Adianto (Indonesia), C. Sandipan (India), L.Q. Liem (Vietnam), E. Torre (RP), D.T. Hai (Vietnam), M. Paragua (RP), J. Xu (China), O. Dimakiling (RP), W. Rui (China) 5.5 points D. Neelotpla (India), S. Yap (RP), M. Ardeshi (Iran), W. Zhou (China), P.D.S. Girinath (India), A. Bagheri (Iran), M. Al Sayed (Qatar), E. Ghaemmaghami (Iran), P. Negi (India), T.H. Thogn (Vietnam), R. Bancod (RP) 5 points T. Batchuluun (Mongolia), A. Kim (Korea), H. Toufighi (Iran), R. Bitoon (RP), J. Alavi (Iran), E. Moradiabadi (Iran), A. Makinano (RP) 4.5 points Y. Shen (China), P. Arun (India), J. Sadorra (RP), H. Nouri (RP), R. Legaspi (RP), E. Bagamasbad (RP), R. Tolentino (RP), W. Goh (Singapore), B. Bayarmandakh (Mongolia), B. Nadera (RP), L. Eavi (India) 4 points S. Kader (Jordan), E. Senador (RP), B. Lalith (India), M. Russell (Sri Lanka) 3.5 points N. Hussein ( Iraq ), V. Sevillano (RP) 2.5 points M. Maga (RP) 1.5 point S. Fancy (PNG) 0.5 points W.P. Yueh (Taipei)

- GMANews.TV