GM Laylo tops Kamatyas invitational rapid chessfest

OLYMPIAD veteran Grandmaster (GM) Darwin Laylo split the point with International Master Jan Emmanuel Garcia in the ninth and final round to rule the 5th Kamatyas Invitational Rapid Chess Tournament at the SM Sucat.

The 42-year-old Armyman actually finished tied with Mr. Garcia with 7.5 points but ended up with the higher tiebreaker, 51.5-48.5, to claim the top purse worth P30,000 and the winner’s trophy couresty of Multisys CEO David Almirol.

All in all, Mr. Laylo finished unbeaten with six wins and three draws.

The Marikina City native opened his campaign with four straight wins before splitting the point with fellow GM Joey Antonio in the fifth round.

He smashed Kevin Arquero and IM Richilieu Salcedo III in succession and then agreed to halve the point with FIDE Master Narquinden Reyes and Mr. Garcia in the end to cap his conquest.

Mr. Laylo said his focus now is to make it back to the national team seeing action in next year’s Southeast Asian Games in Phnom Penh, Cambodia and Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. — Joey Villar