GM Darwin Laylo

Hi there!

Fom Thursday to Saturday last week I was disconnected from our Philippine Chess because of the "Personal Project: Self-Enhancement Workshop" we gave to our grade 10 students. It was a nice feeling to go back to where one once worked and lived and se the people you worked with again. THe orphan students I've had are now grown ups, physically and cognitively.

About the six students we brought there, all they could say were phrases of joy and thanks. Some pictures will be posted here within this week.

And yes, GM Darwin Laylo! We all should get use to the title ok guys? The six months of suspension gave him the time and chance to further his already there chess prowess. And so he came back with a BANG! Sure feel so glad since the last time I got to spend time with him was on the eve of the NCFP Verdict day for him and other chess players regarding the game-fixing scam. HE proved hiw worth and I really hope to see the community give him the support and respect he deserves. From a suspended IM to a titled GM! Hoorrray! Congratulations to you GM Laylo!

Cebu Chess festival was dominated by foreign players. GM Joey Antonio missed the World Championship Qualifier heartbreakingly. HE landed on the 11th spot, a spot short of the top ten. Ouch! Maybe it was not meant to be. Tsk tsk tsk!

Anyways, here's THe Weekender by Mr. Manny Benitez:

The Chess Plaza Weekender
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Quezon Memorial Circle, Quezon City
Vol. II No. 17

New GM Laylo lands berth in World Cup!
Joey narrowly misses the boat on tiebreak as two Chinese stars top Asian title series

NEW Filipino superstar Darwin Laylo has rounded off a brilliant performance in the just-concluded Asian Individual Championship in Cebu by landing a berth in the next World Cup, a part of the world chess championship cycle under the aegis of the World Chess Federation (Fide), journalist Ignacio “Iggy” Dee reports.

The 27-year-old international master from Marikina had earlier captured his third and final norm to earn his grandmaster spurs.

All Laylo needs to do now is to raise his current Elo rating of 2486 to the minimum required of a grandmaster, Elo 2500, to formally acquire the coveted title, Dee said, quoting International Arbiter Gene Poliarco of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP).

Two Chinese superstars, GMs Zhang Pengxiang, 27, and Wang Hao, 18, led the field in first and second places with 8.0 points each, followed by Indian GM Abhijit Kunte, 30, Chinese GM Zhao Jun, 21, Indonesian GM Susanto Megaranto, 20, IM Wen Yang, 19, GM-elect Laylo, 27, and yet another Chinese, Zhou Jianchao, age unknown, with 7.5 each in third to eighth places.

Laylo ended the event with a draw against champion Zhang in the 11th round late yesterday afternoon.

In ninth to 12th places with 7.0 points each were Indian GM-elect G.N. Gopal, 18, Bangladeshi IM Enamul Hossain, 26, GM Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr., 45, Qatari GM Mohammad Al-Modiakhi, 33, and Indian master G. Rohit, 18, in that order on tie-breaking points.

In a heartbreaking twist of destiny, Antonio landed the 11th slot, just a hairbreadth’s away from a World Cup qualification.

The Weekender first learned of IM Laylo’s becoming the seventh Filipino GM ever from reader John Manahan, who did the calculations while the Asian title series was still going on at the Cebu International Convention Center in Mandaue City.

Dee had this confirmed by IA Poliarco, who also revealed that GM Antonio had narrowly missed one of the 10 World Cup slots by the narrowest of margins.

Antonio finished the event with a draw as Black against GM Megaranto, who had been leading the tournament for several rounds earlier on.

For his part, Laylo (2486) started with a bang, disposing of Filipino NM Rhobel Legaspi in the opener and much higher-rated Indian GM Chanda Sandipan, 24, in the second round.

Laylo virtually went on a rampage, knocking down three other GMs—Dao Thien Hai of Vietnam in the seventh, Zhou Jun of China in the eighth and Le Quang Liem of Vietnam in the 10th round—and losing to two others, Megaranto of Indonesia in the third and Parimarjan Negi of India in the sixth.

He also won against Mongolian FM Tsegmad Batchuluun in the fourth and untitled Kim Steven Yap of Cebu, the nemesis of IM Wesley So.

Incidentally, calculations by Manahan showed that Yap had earned his first IM norm.

• Le,Quang Liem (2542) - Laylo,Darwin (2486) [A00]
Rd. 10, Scandinavian Defense (B01)

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nxd5 4.d4 Bf5 5.Nh4 Bd7 6.c4 Nf6 7.Nc3 e6 8.Be3 c5 9.Nf3 cxd4 10.Nxd4 Be7 11.Be2 Nc6 12.Ndb5 0–0 13.0–0 a6 14.Nd6 Qc7 15.c5 Rfd8 16.Nc4 16.Qd2 b6 17.Rfd1 Bc8 leads to equality, says Fritz Rab8 17.Nb6 17.Qd6 Bxd6 18.cxd6 Qc8 should equalize Ne5! 18.Qd4 Bb5 19.Nxb5 axb5 20.Qf4 Bxc5 21.Rac1 Bxe3 22.Qxe3 Nc6 23.Rfd1 Rxd1+ The best 24.Bxd1 Rd8 25.Bf3 If 25.h3 Qd6 b4 26.h3 h6 27.Qc5 27.a4 bxa3 28.bxa3 Qb8 favors Black Qf4 28.Qe3 Qd6 29.Nc4 Qc7 30.Bxc6 Qxc6 31.Ne5 Qa4 32.Qb3 Qb5 33.Qe3 Qd5 34.Rc4 35.Rc5 35.Rxb4!? should be examined more closely, says Fritz Qxa2! 36.b3? Fritz suggests 36.Qc1 Nd5 Missing his best shot, 36...Rd1+!, e.g., 37.Kh2 Qb1 38.Rc8+ Kh7! 37.Qg3 Qa7 38.Rc6 Qd4 39.Kh2 Nf4 40.Nxf7?? Kxf7 41.Rc7+ Kg8 42.Rb7 Qe5! The coup de grace: 43.Rxg7+! Qxg7 44.Qxf4 Rd5 45.Qxb4 Qe5+ 46.g3 Qb2! 0–1


DESPITE THE INTERNAL SQUABBLES
NCFP Executive series continues

By Marlon Bernardino

AFTER a one-week break, the Defensor-Estimo wing of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines resumed yesterday its Executives and Professionals Challenge series at Greenhouse Grille on Matalino St., Quezon City.

Among those who took part in the third leg of the NCFP Executives and Professionals series were Heber Bartolome, a singer of patriotic songs, Engr. Octavio Canta of HULRB, German businessman Reinhardt Orthm Fiscal Ben de la Cruz, pilot Armando Labarda, computer experts Cecil Cuevas and Orly Pascual, Col. Jimsky Santos, Engrs. Nick Nisperos, who is also a national master, and Ali branzuela, as well as a number of executives and professionals. .

Besides Quezon City Rep. Matias Defensor, who is NCFP’s board chairman, and NCFP executive director Samuel Estimo, the Saturday active chess series has won the support of some of the country’s top chess personalities.

Among them were GM Eugene Torre, founding president of the country’s chess governing body; Asia’s first international master, Rodolfo Tan Cardoso; Comelec Commissioner Mehol Sudain, NCFP directors Ed Madrid, Gen. Art Carillo, Jess Torre, Benguet Gov. Rocky Molintas, Doc Jenny Mayor, and ex-NCFP president and well-known sportsman Go Teng Kok.

Yesterday’s event was sponsored by Atty. Rudy Tacorda, a former Bicol regional champion.

NM Estimo has won the series twice in a row, first in a tie with Doc Mayor and the second time in a tie with veteran campaigner Jose Aspiras. Both times Sammy won on tiebreak

Estimo has been at odds with Willie Abalos, with both chess leaders trading charges publicly, with Estimo alleging that Abalos had been acting without authorization by the NCFP board and Abalos charging the executive director of being uncooperative. Both have denied the charges aired against them..

The Weekender is at the forefront of a campaign of reconciliation so that the Filipino chess community can present a united front.

Internal squabbles have been blamed for the consistently poor performance of Filipino players in international tournaments hosted by the country.

The rift has also resulted in the failure of the NCFP to give adequate support to very promising young players like IM Wesley So, at 13 the youngest international master yet produced by the country.

‘Ano Diskarte Mo’ Rapid Open held at UP Vinzons Hall

WHILE the executives and professionals were playing active or rapid chess at Bamboo Grille, a similar joust was being held less than 10 minutes drive away—on the second floor of Vinzons Hall on the University of the Philippines campus, also in Diliman, Quezon City.

The NCFP event on Matalino Street was scheduled to begin at10 a.m. while the ‘Ano Diskarte Mo’ Rapid Swiss Open was to start an hour ahead..

Both events were open to masters and non-masters, but with a difference: the UP event was also open to children while the Bamboo Grille was limited only to executives and professionals—meaning to say, grownups.

Side by side with the open event, the ‘Diskarte Mo’ also had a division exclusively for women.

The Executive and Professionals announcement by Estimo did not mention how much the winners would receive.

‘Ano Diskarte Mo’ organizers said the Open and Women’s champions would get P5,000 each while their first and second runners-up would get P3,000 and P2,000 respectively. Each winner would also get a trophy.

Special prizes of P1,000 plus trophy each were to be awarded to the Top Junior Player (18 years old and younger) and the top kiddie player (12 years old and younger).

TOTAL PINOY DISASTER IN ASIAN CHAMPIONSHIP AVERTED
Laylo, RP’s Lone Ranger

ON the homestretch, as early as the eighth round on Thursday, it became apparent that Philippine hopes were rapidly dwindling, with only International Master Darwin Laylo having an excellent chance to land one of the 10 berths in the 2007 World Cup.

Ironically, it was Laylo’s first tournament after his six-month suspension for alleged involvement in a game-fixing scandal early this year.

The rest of the 19 Filipinos, except for GM Rogelio Antonio Jr. (2531) who was still within striking distance, were all fast fading away, with nine of them including IMs bringing up the rear.

The two other grandmasters, 56-year-old No. 1 Eugene Torre (2536), and 23-year-old Mark Paragua (2525), were a big letdown for their fans, both of them struggling in the lower half of the tournament table.

But the biggest disappointment of all was the country’s No. 4 player and hottest sensation, IM Wesley So, whose hopes for a second grandmaster’s norm, let alone a slot in the World Cup, were dashed by his teenaged compatriot, untitled Kim Steven Yap of Cebu, in the sixth round.

Another disappointment was Singapore-based Julio Catalino Sadorra, who never seemed able to get out of the doldrums. He and So were obviously off form, most likely a question of nerves and possibly an erratic biorhythm.

Wesley (2516), who will turn 14 on October 9, appeared to be off form right from the start when he allowed himself to be held to a draw by 14-year-old untitled Indian player Babu Lalith (2353).

On the other hand, Torre, Antonio and latecomer Paragua, who arrived on the eve of the tournament, started strong.

An ominous portend of things to come, however, came to pass in the second round when Asia’s first grandmaster, playing his old favorite Pirc Defense as Black, lost to Indian dark horse, GM G.N. Gopal, 18, state champion of Kerala.

As if taunting the Filipino stars on their home ground, GM Gopal (2480) made a dramatic repeat by downing GM Antonio in the third.

And, to make things worse, Paragua and So followed in Antonio’s footsteps.

Strangely, Antonio adopted Torre’s pet Pirc but deviated early on by initiating a Q-side operation without castling first and soon found himself in difficulties as Gopal created a strong passed pawn in the center.

• E. Torre – H. Toufighi
Rd. 1, Queen’s Gambit Declined (D55)

1.d4 e6 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bg5 d5 4.e3 Be7 5.c4 0–0 6.Nc3 b6 7.Be2 dxc4 8.Bxc4 Bb7 9.0–0 Nbd7 10.Qe2 Ne4 11.Nxe4 Bxe4 12.Bf4 Bd6 13.Bxd6 cxd6 14.Rac1 Rc8 15.Nd2 Ba8 16.Bd3 Qh4 17.g3 Qg5 18.Be4 Bxe4 19.Nxe4 Qd5 20.Nc3 Qb7 21.Rc2 b5 22.Rfc1 a6 23.Ne4 Rxc2 23...Qb8 would have led to equality 4.Qxc2 Nb8? If 24...d5 25.Nd6 Qa8 25.Nxd6!

25…Qd5 26.Nc8 Black resigns: 26…Qb7 27.Qc7 Qxc7 28.Rxc7! 1–0

Antonio trounced Singapore’s most promising young player.

• E. Goh – R. Antonio Jr
Rd. 1, Modern Defense, Averbakh (A42)

1.e4 c6 2.c4 If 2.Nf3 d5 3.e5 Bg4! d6 3.d4 g6 4.Nc3 Bg7 5.Be3 Nf6 6.Be2 Qa5 7.f3 0–0 8.Qd2 Re8 9.g4 e5 9...c5 10.Nb5 Qb6 11.g5 should equalize, says Fritz 10.d5 h5 11.g5 Nfd7 12.a3 Qc7 13.Rd1 Bf8 14.h4 a5 15.Nh3 Na6 16.Nf2 Nac5 17.Qc2 a4 18.Nd3 Nxd3+ Better was 18...Nb3 19.Nc1 Nd4 20.Bxd4 exd4 21.Rxd4, with equality 19.Bxd3 Qa5 20.Qd2 Nc5 21.Bc2 Nb3 22.Bxb3 axb3 23.Ne2 Qa6 24.Qb4 cxd5 25.cxd5 Bd7 26.Nc3 Be7 27.Qxb3 Bd8 28.Rc1 Ba5 29.Kf2 Rec8 30.Qc2 If 30.Rc2 b5 Rc4 30...Bxc3 31.bxc3 b5 32.Ra1 leads to equality 31.Qe2 Rac8 32.Rhd1 R8c7 33.Kf1 Bxc3! 34.bxc3 Bb5 35.Kg2 Rxe4!36.c4 Rexc4 37.Rxc4 Bxc4 Stronger was 37...Rxc4! 38.Qb2 b5 39.Qb4 Rd7 40.Bc1 Fritz suggests 40.Kh2 Qb7 41.a4 Bxd5 42.Kf2 Bxf3 43.Rxd6 Bg4 44.Rxd7 Qf3+ 45.Kg1 Bxd7 46.Qa3 Qg4+ 47.Kf1 bxa4 48.Qc5 Qf3+ 49.Ke1 Bg4 50.Qe3 Qxe3+ 51.Bxe3 f5! 0–1

Although it was the grandmasters who hugged the limelight in the first round, it was IM Laylo and NM Rustum Tolentino who pulled off surprise wins in the second round, besides GM Antonio’s expected victory over a lower-rated fellow grandmaster from India, Chakkravarthy Deepan (2470).

Laylo downed his first GM, Chanda Sandipan of India, while Tolentino checkmated another Indian, G. Rohit (Laylo’s and Antonio’s win were featured in last week’s Weekender).

But first, here is GM Paragua’s first-round win.

• M. Paragua – A. Samhouri
Rd. 1, Scandinavian Defense (C22)

1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Qxd4 Nc6 4.Qe3 Nf6 5.Nc3 Bb4 6.Bd2 0–0 7.0–0–0 Re8 8.Qg3 Rxe4 9.a3 Bd6 10.f4 Re8 11.Bd3 Bf8 12.Nf3 d6 Not 12...d5 13.Rhe1! 13.h3 Ne7 14.Rhe1 Nf5 14...c6 15.Qf2 would have equalized 15.Rxe8 Qxe8 16.Qf2 d5 17.Re1 Qd8 18.g4 Nd6 18...Ne7 is worth looking at, says Fritz 19.Qh4± Be6 20.Ng5 h6 21.Nxe6 fxe6 22.Rxe6 Nfe4 22...d4 would have reduced White’s lead: 23.Ne2 Nf7 23.Qxd8 White now has a big lead Rxd8 24.Nxe4 Nxe4 25.Bxe4 dxe4 26.Rxe4 Kf7 27.Kd1 Bd6 28.Ke2 g6 29.Bc3 h5 30.Kf3 hxg4+ 31.hxg4 Be7 32.Rd4 Bd6 33.Rd1 Rf8 34.Ke4 Ke6 35.Rf1 Re8 36.Rh1 Kd7+ 37.Be5 g5 38.Kd5 38.Rh7+ was stronger, e.g., 38…Kc6 39.Rh5 gxf4 40.Kxf4 Kd5 41.Bxd6+! gxf4 39.Rh7+ Kc8 40.Bxd6 cxd6 41.Rf7 Re2 42.Rxf4 Rd2+ 43.Rd4!

The extra pawn and the centralized king ensures White’s victory as Black is in Zugzwang.1–0

What caught the attention of the Asian media in the first round, however, was the loss of top seed Ni Hua (2681) to Iranian IM Morteza Mahjoobsardast (2479).

• M. Mahjoobzardast – Ni Hua
Rd. 1, French Tarrasch (C07)

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 c5 4.Ngf3 cxd4 5.exd5 Qxd5 6.Bc4 Qd6 7.0–0 Nf6.8.Nb3 Nc6 9.Nbxd4 Nxd4 10.Qxd4 Qxd4 11.Nxd4 Bd7 12.Bb5 Bc5 13.Bxd7+ Kxd7 14.Nb3 Bb6 15.Rd1+ Ke7 16.Bd2 Rhc8 17.c3 a5 18.a4 Ng4 19.Be1 Ne5 20.Kf1 g5 21.h3 h5 22.Ke2 f6 23.Nc1 Nc4 24.Nd3 e5 25.b3 Nd6 26.Nb2 Ke6 27.Rd3 Bc5 28.f3 Ra6 29.Rb1 Rac6 30.Nd1 Nf5 31.Rb2 Ne7 32.Bd2 Nd5 33.g3 h4 33...b6 34.c4 Ne7 35.Nc3 leads to equality 34.c4 Ne7 35.g4 Ng6 36.Rc2 Bd4 37.Nc3 b6 38.Nb5! Rd8 39.Be3 Rcc8 39...Rd7 was necessary to keep the balance 40.Rcd2! Pinning the bishop Bxe3??

A blunder that loses the exchange..

41.Rxd8 But of course! Rxd8 42.Rxd8 Not 42.Kxe3 because of 42…Rxd2 43.Kxd2 Nf4! Bc5 43.Nc7+ Ke7 44.Rb8 Nf4+ 45.Kf1 Nxh3 46.Nd5+ Ke6 47.Rc8 Bd4 48.Rc6+ Kf7 49.Rxf6+ Kg7 50.Rf5 Kh6 51.Rf6+? Releasing the pressure on Black, says Fritz, giving this line instead: 51.Nxb6 Nf2 52.Kg2 e4 53.fxe4 h3+ 54.Kh2 Be5+ 55.Rxe5

Nxg4+ 56.Kxh3! Kg7 52.Rf5? Blunders come in pairs. Better was 52.Rd6 Bc5 53.Re6 Ng1 54.Rxe5 Nxf3 Kh6 53.Kg2 Nf2 Kg6 55.Ne4 55.Nd7! makes it even easier for White, says Fritz: 55...Nd3 56.Nf8+ Kg7 57.Ne6+ Kg6 58.Nxg5 Nf4+ 59.Kh2, and wins Nxe4 56.fxe4 Bc3 57.Rf8 Kg7 58.Rf3 Bd4 59.Kf1 Kg6 60.Ke2 Bc5 61.Kf1 Bd4 62.Rf5 Bc3 63.c5 bxc5 64.Rf3 Bd4 65.Ke2 c4 66.bxc4 Bc5 67.Kf1 Bb4 68.Rf5 Bd6 69.Kg2 1–0

Now here is how NM Tolentino made history with a stunning upset—and a mate, at that!.

• R. Tolentino – G. Rohit
Rd. 2, Sicilian Defense (B40)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4 Qc7 4.Nc3 a6 5.g3 Nc6 6.Bg2 g6 7.0–0 Bg7 8.d3 Nge7 9.Bf4 d6 10.Qa4 Rb8 11.d4 cxd4 12.c5 e5 13.Nd5 Qa5 14.Qxa5 Nxa5 15.Nxe7 Kxe7 16.cxd6+ Kxd6 17.Bd2 Nc6 18.Ng5 Ke7 19.f4 h6 20.Nf3 exf4 21.gxf4 Rd8 22.Be1 Be6 23.Bh4+ Bf6 24.Bg3 Rbc8 25.e5 Bg7 26.Bh4+ f6 27.Rae1 Kf7 28.exf6 Bf8 29.b3 d3 30.Rxe6 Kxe6 31.Bh3+ Kd5 31...Kf7 may be tried, e.g., 32.Bxc8 Rxc8! 32.Rd1! Ra8 If 32...Rc7 33.Ne5! 33.f7 Better than 33.Rxd3+ Ke4 34.Rxd8 Rxd8! Rdb8 Fritz suggests 33...Ke4 to keep Black in the game: 34.Nd2+ Kd4 35.Bf6+ Kc5, with equal chances 34.Rxd3+ Ke4 35.Rc3 Be7 36.Nd2+! Kd4 37.Rc4+ 37.Rxc6 Bxh4 38.Re6 g5 39.Nf3+ Kc3 40.Rxh6 g4 41.Bxg4 was also playable Kd3 38.Be1 Ke2? 39.Bg4+ Kxe1 40.Nb1! Mate is in the air Ba3 41.Re4#!

A beauty, with the kings facing each other and Black is caught in the crossfire! 1–0

Over the past 11 days of the Asian Championship, two new Pinoy heroes were born: GM candidate Darwin Laylo of Marikina and IM candidate Kim Steven Yap of Cebu.

Yap (2246) may not have been consistent and steady enough to be among the leading players, but he has emerged as the most effective giant killer in this event. Unfortunately for the country, one of his victims was our fastest rising stars, Bacoor wonder boy Wesley So, in the seventh round.

The Cebuano youngster served notice of his giant-killing ways in his maiden bow when he demolished a much higher-rated IM from Bangladesh.

• K.S.Yap – E. Hossain
Rd. 1, Sicilian Defense (B40)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.c3 d3 5.Bxd3 d6 6.0–0 a6 7.Qe2 Nd7 8.Rd1 Ngf6 9.Bf4 Qc7 10.Nbd2 Nh5 Fritz at this point urges Black to” quickly conclude development” 11.Be3 g6 12.a4 Be7 13.a5 0–0 14.Nc4 Re8 15.Bc2 Rf8 16.Rd2 Nhf6 17.Bf4 Missing 17.Rad1, which would have given White a tremendous boost, e.g., 17…d5 18.Nb6 dxe4 19.Nxa8 exf3 20.Nxc7 fxe2 21.Rxe2 e5 18.Bg5 b5 19.axb6 Nxb6 20.Nxd6! A deflecting sacrifice Bxd6 21.Bxf6 The point Nc4 If 21...Be6 22.Ng5! 22.Rad1 If 22.Rdd1 Re8 23.Bb3 Be6 ] Nxd2 23.Qxd2 Better than 23.Nxd2 Be7 24.Bxe7 Qxe7! Be7 24.Bxe5 Qb6 25.Qh6 f6 26.Ng5!!

26...Rf7 Not 26...fxg5 27.Bb3+!, and mate can’t be stopped. 27.Nxf7 fxe5 28.Ng5 Bxg5 29.Qxg5 Bb7 30.b4 Re8 31.Bb3+ [31.Bb3+ Bd5 32.Rxd5+-] 1–0
The problem with Yap, however, was his lack of consistency, and so his results looked like a very rough rollercoaster ride, e.g., he won in the first round, lost in the second and won in the third.

• K.S. Yap (2246) – Nguyen Anh Dung (2537)
Rd. 3, Petroff Defense (C42)

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nxe5 0–0 5.Nd3 Bxc3 6.dxc3 Nxe4 7.Be3 d6 8.Qf3 Re8 9.0–0–0 Nc6 10.g4 If 10.Be2 Qh4, with equal chances Nf6 10...Qf6 11.Qxf6 Nxf6 12.h3 leads to equality 11.Rg1 Nd7 12.Qg3 a5 13.c4 a4 14.a3 Nf6 15.Bg5 h6 16.Be3 Ne4 Not 16...Bxg4 because of 17.h3! 17.Qg2 Qh4 18.Nf4 Nf6 19.h3 Ne5 20.Qh1 Nfd7 21.Nd5 Qd8 22.g5 h5 23.g6 Nf6 24.gxf7+ Kxf7 25.Qg2 Rg8 26.f4 Nc6 27.c5 Be6 28.Bc4 g6 29.cxd6 cxd6 30.Bb6 Fritz prefers 30.Nxf6 Qxf6 31.Rxd6 Bxc4 32.Rxf6+ Kxf6 33.Qg5+! Qc8 31.Nxf6 Bxc4 32.Nxg8 Qxg8 33.Rxd6 Be6 34.f5 Bxf5 35.Qd5+ Kg7 36.Re1 Missing his best shot, 36.Qxf5!, leading to mate: 36…Ne7 37.Rdxg6+ Nxg6 38.Rxg6+ Kh8 39.Qxh5+ Qh7 40.Bd4#! Kf8?? 37.Rf6+ Kg7 38.Rxf5!

The coup de grace, e.g., 38…Qxd5 39.Rxd5! 1–0

The highlight of Yap’s performance in the Asian Championship was his phenomenal victory over his younger rival, IM So in the second half of the tournament.

• Yap,Kim Steven (2246) - So,Wesley (2516) [A00]
Rd. 7, Sicilian Pelikan/Sveshnikov (B33)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 6.Ndb5 d6 7.Nd5 Nxd5 8.exd5 Nb8 9.Bd3 a6 10.Nc3 Be7 11.Qh5 Nd7 12.Be3 Nf6 13.Qf3 b5 14.a3 Bb7 15.g4 Rc8 16.g5 Nd7 17.Bf5 g6 18.Bg4 Rc4 19.h4 Nb6 20.Rd1 Na4 20...Rxc3 should be investigated more closely, says Fritz, which cites 21.bxc3 Nxd5! 21.Nxa4! bxa4 21...Rxa4 22.c3 should equalize 22.h5 Rf8 Better was 22...Bxg5 23.hxg6 fxg6 24.Rd2, with equal chances 23.c3 23.hxg6 also allows Black to equalize Bxg5 Equalizing nonetheless 24.Qe2 Re4 25.Bf3 Rh4 26.Rxh4 Bxh4 27.Qc4 f5 28.Qxa4+ Kf7 29.Qb4 Qe7 30.c4 f4 31.Bb6 e4 32.Bg4 e3 33.Kf1? Qe4! Seizing the moment 34.Rd4 Qh1+ 34...e2+ may be better, e.g., 35.Ke1 Bxf2+ 36.Kxf2 Qe3+ 37.Ke1 f3 38.Bxf3 Qxf3 39.Rf4+ Qxf4 40.Kxe2 Bc8! 35.Ke2 Kg7??

Fritz condemns this as “letting the wind out of his own sail,” and suggests 35...Qh2
36.Be6+ Kg7 37.Rxf4 Qxf4 38.Bxe3 Qe4 39.Qxb7+ Kh8.36.Qxd6 Restoring the balance f3+ Fritz sees 36...Rf6 as the strongest move 37.Kxe3 Bxf2+ 38.Kd2 Qe1+ 39.Kc2 Qe8?? The final blunder. 39…Qe2 was the safest 40.h6+! Kh8 41.Be6! The final nail: 41…Bh4 42.Rxh4 Qe7 43.Qxe7 Rf7 44.Bd4+ Kg8 45.Bxf7#! 1–0

Tuesday proved to be a day of gloom for Filipino stars as Eugene, Joey and Macmac all bowed to their foreign rivals in the seventh round.

As mentioned in the preceding page, IM So followed in their footsteps, but it was a compatriot who did him in at the board.

The only refreshing news on that day was Laylo’s drubbing of Vietnamese GM Dao Thien Hai—and with Black at that!

Journalist Ignacio “Iggy” Dee ran the games through Fritz’s digital scrutiny and came up with these notes.

• DaoThien Hai (2537) – D. Laylo (2486)
Rd. 7, Slav Defense

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 a6 5.a4 e6 6.Bg5 Be7 7.e3 0-0 8.Bd3 h6 9.Bh4 c5 10.dxc5 dxc4 11.Bxc4 Qxd1+ 12.Rxd1 Bxc5 13.0-0 Nc6 14.Nd2 Be7 15.Be2 Nd5 16.Nxd5 exd5 17.Bxe7 Nxe7 18.Rc1 Nc6 19.Nb3 Rb8 20.Rfd1 Rd8 21.h3 Kf8 22.g4 g6 23.Rc3 Be6 24.Nc5 Rd6 25.Bf3 Ke7 26.Bg2 a5 27.Bf1 d4 28.exd4 Nxd4 29.Rcd3 Nf3+! A well-timed discovered attack.30.Kg2 Rxd3 31.Bxd3 Ne5 32.Be4 b5 33.Ra1 33.Nxe6 Kxe6 34.b4 bxa4 35.Bd5+ Kf6 36.bxa5 Rb5 was playable bxa4 34.Rxa4 Rb5 35.Nxe6 Kxe6 36.b3 g5 37.Rd4 Ke7 38.Bc2 Nd7 39.h4 Nf8 40.hxg5 hxg5 Better than 40...Rxg5 41.Bf5 41.Bf5 Fritz suggests 41.Kf1!? as a viable alternative Rxb3 42.f4 gxf4 43.Rxf4 Rb4 44.Rxb4 axb4 45.Kf3 Ne6 46.Ke4 Kd6 47.Kd3 Kd5 48.Be4+ Kc5 49.Bf5 50.Bh7 Nf3 51.Ke3 Ne5 52.Bf5 b3 53.g5 Kc4 54.Be4 Kc3 55.Ke2 Ng6 56.Ke3 b2 57.Bb1 Ne7 58.Ke2 Nd5 59.Ke1 Ne3 60.Kf2?? Kd2 61.Kf3 Nc2 62.Ke4 Kc1 63.Ba2 Nb4! The clincher:65.Kf4 Nd3+ 66.Kf5 Qb5+ 67.Ke6 Qxg5! 0-1

• E. Torre (2536) - D. Neelotpal (2485)
Rd. 7, Queen’s Pawn Opening

1.d4 d5 2.Bg5 f6 3.Bf4 Nc6 4.e3 e5 5.Bg3 exd4 6.exd4 Qe7+ 7.Ne2 Bf5 8.c3 h5 9.h3 h4 10.Bh2 0–0–0 11.Na3 g6 12.Qd2 Bh6 13.Bf4 g5 14.Be3 Bf8 15.Nc1 Nh6 16.Bb5 Qe6 17.Nd3 Na5 18.b4 18.Nb4! must be considered, says Fritz c6! 19.Ba4 Qe4 20.Nb2 Qxg2 21.0–0–0 Bxh3 22.Rdg1 Qf3 23.Bd1 Qf5 24.Be2 Bg4 25.f3 Bh5 26.Rf1 Qe6 27.Re1 Nf5 28.Nc2 Nc4 29.Bxc4 dxc4 30.Bxg5 Qf7 31.Bf4 Bxf3 32.Rhf1 Bd5 33.a4 Ng3 34.Rg1 Bd6 35.Bxd6 Rxd6 36.Qf4 Re6 37.Ne3 Re4 38.Qf2 Rhe8 39.Nbd1 f5 40.Kb2 f4 41.Nc2 Re2! 0–1

• Wang Hao (2626) – R. Antonio Jr (2532)
Rd. 7,Caro-Kann, Advance Variation (B12)

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2 Ne7 6.0-0 h6 7.Nbd2 Nd7 8.Nb3 g5 9.a4 Qc7 10.a5 a6 11.Be3 Bg7 12.Rc1 Rd8 13.h4 f6 14.exf6 Bxf6 15.Ne5 Nxe5 16.dxe5 Bxe5 17.Bb6.Qd6 18.Bh5+ Kd7 19.Qe2 Rdf8 19...gxh4 20.Rce1 Bxb2 21.Nc5+ Kc8 22.Rb1 favors White 20.Rce1 Bxb2 21.Nc5+ Kc8 22.Nxa6 gxh4 Not 22...bxa6 because of a mating threat 23.Qxa6+ Kb8 24.Qa7+ Kc8 25.Be2 Bd3 26.Bxd3 Qh2+ 27.Kxh2 Be5+ 28.Rxe5 Rxf2 29.Ba6#! 23.Nc5 Rhg8 24.Kh1 Ba3-/+ 25.Qe3 h3 26.g4 Bxc5 26...Be4+ leads to equality 27.Nxe4 dxe4 28.Qxe4 Rf6 27.Bxc5! Be4+ 28.Qxe4 Qxc5 29.Qxe6+ Kd8 30.a6 30.Bf7 was best: 27…Rxg4 31.Qxg4 Rxf7 32.Qe6, and White has a slight lead bxa6 31.Rb1 Qa7? 31...d4 would keep Black alive, says Fritz 32.Bf7 Qc7 33.Bxg8 Qf4?? 34.Rb334.f3 was more decisive, e.g., 34...Rf6 35.Rb8+ Qxb8 36.Qxf6! Rxg8+/- 35.Re1 Re8? 36.Rxh3 Qxf2 37.Qd6+ Kc8 38.Rb1!

The coup de grace: 38….Qe1+ 39.Rxe1 Rd8 40.Qxe7 Rd7 41.Qe8+ Kc7 42.Rb3 Rd8 43.Re7+ Kd6 44.Re6+ Kc5 45.Qxc6+ Kd4 46.Qc3#!
1-0

GM Paragua lost to China’s 15-year-old wonder girl

• Shen Yang (2439) – M. Paragua (2525)
Rd. 7, Queen’s Indian (E15)

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4 b6 4.g3 Ba6 5.b3 Bb4+ 6.Bd2 Be7 7.Bg2 c6 8.Bc3 d5 9.Ne5 Nfd7 10.Nxd7 Nxd7 11.Nd2 0-0 12.0-0 Rc8 13.e4 b5 14.Re1 dxc4 15.bxc4 Nb6 16.cxb5 cxb5 17.Rc1 Ba3 18.Rc2 Na4 19.Ba1 Rxc2 20.Qxc2 Qa5 21.d5 e5 Fritz believes 21...Rc8 is the best option for Black, e.g., 22.Qd3 Bf8, with equal chances 22.Bxe5 Rc8 23.Qd1 Rc1 24.Qe2 Rxe1+ 24...Nc3 25.Bxc3 b4 26.Rxc1 Bxe2 , with equal chances 25.Qxe1 Bb4 26.Qc1 Nc5 27.Nb3 Nxb3 28.axb3 If 28.Qc6 Qxa2 29.d6 Bxd6 30.Qxd6 h6 Qb6 28...Qa2 29.Qb2 Qxb2 30.Bxb2 favors White 29.Bc7 29.Qc6 Qxc6 30.dxc6 Bc8 boosts White’s lead Qg6 30.Qe3 Bc8 31.Qxa7 Black resigns 1-0

Ms Shen shone in the 2006 Olympiad in Turin and at the World Women’s Team Championship in Ekaterinburg earlier this year.

Sorry guys, this one's late and Ive chosen to post the major stories only. Hope all is well with all of you.