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By Frank Calapre, Correspondent
THE year 2007 is considered as a banner year for
Philippine chess, having produced two Grandmasters.
Darwin Laylo and Wesley So fulfilled their
long-cherished dreams of joining the elite circle of Grandmasters
Eugene Torre (1974), Rosendo Balinas (1976), Joey Antonio Jr.
(1998), Buenaventura “Bong” Villamayor (2000), Nelson Mariano
2nd (2004) and Mark Paragua (2005).
“Yes, I can say that 2007 is a very memorable
year for Philippine chess. We produced not only one but two
Grandmasters in just a span of three months. It’s great for the
country because at least we have already seven active GMs,” said
former Surigao Congressman Prospero Pichay, the president of the
National Chess Federation of the Philippines.
Laylo became the country’s seventh GM after
getting his third and last norm in the 2007 Asian Chess Championship
last September in Mandaue City, Cebu.
The tournament, which was participated in by
five super GMs with ratings of more than 2600 and 27 GMs, was held
at the Cebu International Convention Center.
The 27-year-old Laylo, a Business Management
graduate at the San Sebastian College-Recoletos, finished with 7.5
points, just a half point behind co-champion super GMs Zhang
Pengxiang and Wang Hao of China.
“It’s really my long time dream and I did it
at the time when I was trying to prove myself before some people,
who tried to put me down by involving me in an alleged game-fixing
scandal,” noted Laylo, the youngest among five children of Efren,
a former tricycle driver, and Liwayway, a sari-sari store owner from
Lipa City, Batangas.
Laylo obtained his first norm at the 2006
Malaysian Open in Kuala Lumpur and second norm at the 2006 Bad
Wiesse International Open in Germany.
His third-place finish in Cebu also earned for
him the distinction of being the only Filipino to qualify in the
2007 World Chess Cup held in Khanty-Mansysky, Russia where he lost
to France champion and super GM Etienne Bacrot (2695) in the second
round.
“That is why I prefer to host international
tournaments rather than sending players abroad because many Filipino
players will benefit,” added Pichay.
Just three months after Laylo realized his
dream, So became the country’s eighth GM after finishing with six
points in the star-studded 3rd Prospero Pichay International Open at
the Duty Free Fiesta Mall in Parañaque City on December 7.
So, at 14 years, one month and 28 days, also
became the seventh youngest GM in chess history. Legendary genius
Robert “Bobby” Fischer of the US became GM only at the age of 15
in 1958.
So, a former Promil Whiz kid who is currently a
high-school sophomore at the St. Francis of Assisi College System in
Bacoor, got his first norm in the 2006 Bad Wiesse International Open
in Germany. He acquired his second norm in the 9th World Juniors
Chess Championship at the Petrosian Chess House in Yerevan, Armenia
on October 14.
“I’m very happy for my son. It’s a product
of hard work. I knew he will become a GM, but I did not expect this
fast. It’s his childhood dream,” said Wesley’s mother Eleonor,
who works as a comptroller at the De La Salle Health Science
Institute in Dasmariñas, Cavite.
Pichay, who was elected president in March 2006,
named the hosting of five major international tournaments as among
the NCFP’s big achievements this year, aside from the elevation of
Laylo and So to full GM.
“Our hosting of major international
tournaments is aimed towards giving our chess players the needed
exposures. At least, they were able to compete against world-class
players in Asia,” stressed Pichay.
The tournaments successfully hosted by the NCFP
were the 2007 Philippine Open International at the Legend Hotel in
Subic (April 10 to 20), 7th Asian Chess Championship at the Cebu
International Convention Center in Mandaue City (September 18 to
31), 2nd President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo International Cup at the
Duty Free Fiesta Mall in Parañaque City (November 16 to 24), GMA
Chess International Challenge at the Bayview Hotel and 3rd Prospero
Pichay Cup at the Duty Free Fiesta Mall (December 1 to 7).
“I’m expecting more players to become
Grandmasters as we continue hosting several big-caliber
international tournaments next year. I really believe we have many
talents and they just need to be exposed with the bests in the
world,” said Pichay.
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