by Marlon Bernardino

Manila---Grandmaster (GM) Darwin Laylo drew with Grandmaster (GM) Rogelio "Joey" Antonio Jr. via repetition of moves in their Modern Benoni skirmish to win their match-up, 15-13 score, in the first-ever P20,000 winner-take-all match online blitz chess tournament on Sunday, June 7, 2020 at the lichess.org.

The match was very close and lasted 4 and half hours according to host commentator International Master (IM) Roderick Nava.
"Napakaganda ng laban at humabol pa si GM Joey (Antonio) pero kailangan lamang ng tabla ni GM Darwin (Laylo) para manalo sa match." said the Carmona, Cavited based Nava, a youtube blogger.
"Tabla na lang kailangan ko kaya ng nakita ko y'ung pagkakataon na repetition moves ay hindi ko na pinakawalan pa kasi 15 points na ako at panalo na ako sa match," said San Roque, Marikina City based Laylo, one of the top players of multitled Philippine Army Chess Team."

Europe gaming consultant /sportsman Kim Zafra who backed up this event said another chess match will be held this year.
"By September or December" he said.

Among GM Laylo's possible opponents is Asia's First GM (Eugene) Torre, GM Mark Paragua or a rematch between GM (Joey) Antonio.
Meanwhile, Laylo is busy preparing for the upcoming Baby Uno Chess Challenge online chess tournament on June 14, 2020, Sunday.

Other early entries in the Baby Uno Chess Challenge online chess tournament are defendig champion Antonio, NCFP semis top notcher Paragua , Jasper Faeldonia, runner-up place in the 7th Julio Trunio Online Blitz Tournament and Auckland, New Zealand based Jun Isaac, who is fresh from winning the Col. Jaime Osit Santos PNP Executive chess tournament.-Marlon Bernardino-