Indonesia Open Chess: Laylo wins, Gomez, Barbosa falters

by Marlon Bernardino

Manila---Filipino Grandmaster Darwin Laylo played even better in his fourth game in the 2013 Indonesian Chess Open Championship, turning back Indonesian International Master Farid Firman Syah, yesterday being held at the Puri Ratna Ballroom, Grand Sahid Jaya Hotel, Jl. Jenderal Sudirman 86 Jakarta, Indonesia.

The Marikina City native Laylo, playing under the baton of multi-titled Philippine Army chess team tallied 3.0 points, the same output of GM Alexander Moseenko of Ukraine, GM Vadim Malakhatko of Belarus, GM Renier Igarza Vazquez of Spain, GM Nigel Short of England, GM Avetik Grigoryan of Armenia, GM Jaan Ehlvest of the USA, GM Antoaneta Stefanova of Bulgaria, GM Ehsan Ghaem Maghami of Iran, GM Bayarsaikhan Gundavaa of Mongolia, GM Ivan Sokolov of the Netherlands, GMs Suri Vaibhav, Shyam Sundar M and Abhijeet Gupta of India, GM  Eduardo Iturrizaga of Venezuela, GM Sandro Mareco of Argentina, GM Cao Sang of Vietnam, IM Tirta Chandra Purnama and FM Anjas Novita of Indonesia.

Not everything was good news for local chess fans, though, with Grandmasters John Paul Gomez and Oliver Barbosa failing to sustain their momentum.

The Binan, Laguna ace Gomez was yielded to GM Surya Shekhar Ganguly of India while the Taytay,Rizal pride Barbosa bowed to GM Hoang Thanh Trang of Hungrary.

 With the win, Ganguly and Trang joined GM Aleksey Dreev of Russia in the 2nd to 4th placers with 3.5 points apiece. Dreev, on the other hand toppled GM Susanto Megaranto of Indonesia.

GM Ivan Ivanisevic of Serbia, meantime subdued overnight co-leader GM Avetik Grigoryan of Armenia to grabs the solo leadership board with perfect 4.0 points.

In other Filipino matches saw, GM Richard Bitoon was beaten by GM Ivan Sokolov of the Netherlands, FM Paulo Bersamina split the point with IM Nguyen Van Huy of Vietnam, GM Mark Paragua lost to IM Lioe Dede of Indonesia as well IM Oliver Dimakiling was collapsed to GM Gopal G N of India.

IM Rolando Nolte beat GM Ardiansyah H of Indonesia, IM Emmanuel Senador crushed  GM Enamul Hossain of Bangladesh, NM Emmanuel Emperado upset GM Eugene Torre, IM Kim Steven Yap nipped FM Sumiya Bilguun of Mongolia and IM Ronald Bancod lost to Fauzan M of Indonesia.

The Filipino woodpushers Indonesia chess campaign are being supported by National Chess Federation of the Philippines headed  by chairman/president Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr. and  secretary-general  Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino Jr., Philippine Sports Commisison (PSC) chairman  Ricardo "Richie" Garcia and Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Jose "Peping" Cojuangco.