Individual Standings after Round 4:(Seven Round Swiss-system, Standard play)

(Open Division)

4.0 points---GM Darwin Laylo, IM Paulo Bersamina
3.5 points---GM John Paul Gomez, NM John Merill Jacutina, IM Kim Steven Yap
3.0 points---IM John Marvin Miciano, IM Haridas Pascua, NM Edsel Montoya, IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia, IM Oliver Dimakiling, GM Jayson Gonzales, NM Jerad Docena, NM Joey Albert Florendo, NM Alexander Lupian, FM Stephen Rome Pangilinan, NM Almario Marlon Bernardino Jr., Jayson Salubre, Jay Bulicatin, NM Anthony Makinano

(Women's Division)

4.0 points---WIM Mikee Suede
3.5 points---WFM Shanie Mae Mendoza , WIM Catherine Perena-Secopito , WGM Janelle Mae Frayna

CEBU---GRANDMASTER Darwin Laylo of Marikina City and International Master Paulo Bersamina of Tandag City kept the lead in the 2018 Philippine National Games (PNG) Chess Championships, Standard Open Competition after downing separate rivals on Tuesday morning session at the Robinson Galleria Cebu here.

Laylo defeated International Master Jan Emmanuel Garcia of Manila while Bersamina, the top player of National University chess team under the tutelage of team manager Samson Go and coach United States Chess Federation (USCF) master Jose "Jojo" Aquino Jr., subdued International Master John Marvin Miciano of Davao City.

Both players now have 4.0 points and they will dispute solo leadership board in Tuesday's fifth round afternoon session.

Earlier, Laylo, top player of multi-titled Philippine Army chess team toppled giant killer Fide Master Austin Jacob Literatus of Davao City in Monday's third round while Bersamina trounced NM Alexander Lupian of Davao City.

Top seed GM John Paul Gomez of Albay beat NM Edsel Montoya of Cebu City to raised his total to 3.5 points in four rounds for a tie with IM Kim Steven Yap of Cebu Province and NM John Merill Jacutina of FEU.

Yap crushed Jhonnel Balquin of Cagayan de Oro City while Jacutina waylaid Danny Maersk Mangao of Bacolod City.

Garcia, Miciano and Montoya, meantime was stuck at 3.0 points, the same output of IM Haridas Pascua of Baguio City, IM Oliver Dimakiling, GM Jayson Gonzales of Albay, NM Jerad Docena, NM Joey Albert Florendo of Zamboanga City, NM Alexander Lupian of Davao City, FM Stephen Rome Pangilinan of Manila, NM Almario Marlon Bernardino Jr. of Barangay Malamig, Mandaluyong City, Jayson Salubre of Davao del Norte, Jay Bulicatin of Panabo and NM Anthony Makinano of Cebu City.

In the women's division, former Asian junior champion WIM Mikee Suede gained from a default by WIM Bernadette Galas to lead the women’s side. Some Makati players arrived late for the round according to head coach Francis Magpily.

The win improved Suede to 4.0 points, half point head with top seed WGM Janelle Mae Frayna of Albay, second seed WIM Catherine Perena-Secopito of Bulacan and WFM Shanie Mae Mendoza of Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

Frayna whose stint here backed up by Albay Gov. Al Francis C. Bichara dismantled WFM Michelle Yaon of Calamba City while Secopito split the point with Mendoza.

In Tuesday's fifth round afternoon session, Secopito goes up against Suede in Board 1 while Frayna will face Mendoza in Board 2.-Marlon Bernardino-