GM Darwin Laylo to banner 'The Search for the next Wesley So'
By Marlon Bernardino
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 18 Mar 2018
GRANDMASTER Darwin Laylo will spearhead a strong local cast clashing in the The Search for the next Wesley So invitational active chess tournament set March 24 to 25, 2018 at the Alphaland Makati Place (2nd Floor) at 7232 Ayala Avenue Corner Malugay Street (near Makati Fire Station) in Makati City.
The Philippine Army chess team top player Laylo, who won the 1st Chooks-to-Go National Rapid Chess Championship held last year at Vista Mall, Sta. Rosa in Laguna, loom as the player to beat in the two-day event owing to his current impressive performance.
?Words don?t even describe how excited I am to be playing for The Search for the next Wesley So at the Alphaland Makati Place in Makati City," said the San Roque, Marikina City pride Laylo, part of the Coaching staff of Ateneo de Manila University chess team.
?A privilege and an honour and I'll do my very best," last word of Laylo, who hails from Lipa City, Batangas, and a close friend of World's number 3 Super Grandmaster Wesley So.
The event, hosted by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) Chairman/President Surigao del Sur. Rep. Prospero "Butch" Arreza Pichay Jr. in cooperation with the Alphaland Makati Place, offers a total pot prize of P50,000.
Other GMs vying in the event, organized by NCFP treasurer Atty. Cliburn Anthony A. Orbe, are 13-times Philippine Open champion Rogelio "Joey" Antonio Jr. and John Paul Gomez as well International Masters (IMs) Roderick Nava, Joel Pimentel and Jan Emmanuel Garcia.
Bannering the youth challenge are eight-year-old Al-Basher "Basty" Buto, Michael Concio Jr., Mark Jay Bacojo, Daniel Quizon, Jerlyn Mae San Diego and Kylen Joy Mordido.
The rate of play is 30 minutes plus five seconds delay active time control format in this two-day affair with the aim of developing the country's youth stars and helping sharpen their skills according to Atty. Orbe.
"Exciting times ahead for Philippine chess," added Atty. Orbe, is also the founding president of the newly-formed Philippine Executive Chess Association (PECA).
All games will be broadcast live worldwide through the Youtube channel of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines added Atty. Orbe with six Digital Game Technoloy (DGT) electronics boards will be used.
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