TAGAYTAY CITY — International Master Jayson Gonzales and National Master Darwin Laylo scalped separate rivals in the ninth round Thursday night to share the lead in the National Chess Championships at the Tagaytay International Convention Center here.
Gonzales beat NM Mirabeau Maga in 29 moves of King’s Indian Attack while Laylo defeated Surigao’s Fame Fazon in 28 moves of Trompovsky to tally similar 6.0 points.
"To win two straight (games) after a loss is good for my confidence. Ibig sabihin nun andun ‘yung focus ko," said Gonzales, who beat NM Rodolfo Diaz, Jr. in the eighth after losing to FIDE Master Fernie Donguines in the preceding round.
The Southeast Asian Games veteran, playing with the black pieces, turned on the heat in the middle game after Maga hanged his pawn on d3.
The top three in the men’s and the top four in the women’s of the tournament sponsored by Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino and the First Gentleman Foundation will join the RP delegation bound for this year’s World Chess Olympiad in Majorca, Spain.
WNM Aices Salvador claimed solo leadership in the distaff side after downing erstwhile co-leader WNM Christine Castellano in the sixth round after 32 moves of Queen’s Pawn Game to push her total to 4.5 points.
Chasing the leaders in the men’s were IM Chito Garma, FM Fernie Donguines, NM Emmanuel Senador and 17-year old NM Oliver Barbosa.
Garma took a bye in the ninth after scoring 5.5 points in eight games, Donguines saw his fourgame run snapped by Senador in 35 moves of Sicilian-Smitch Morra Gambit and Barbosa nipped NM Rolando Nolte after 40 moves of Nimzo Indian Defense.
