World Chess Olympiad-bound GM Darwin Laylo settled for a draw with compatriot GM John Paul Gomez to stay within striking distance after the draw-filled sixth round of the sixth Pichay Cup international chess championship Tuesday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

With the draw, Laylo, seeded seventh with an ELO of 2522, raised his output to 4.5 points on three wins and three draws to remain as the highest-placed Filipino player in the tough, 46-player tournament organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) in cooperation with the Philippine Sports Commission, Local Water Utilities Administration, PCSO and Pagcor.

Laylo is tied with top seed GM Murtas Kazhgaleyev of Kazakhstan and GMs Merab Gagunashvili and Tamaz Gelavhvili of Georgia with still three rounds remaining.