Pinoy GMs ready, confident in upcoming World Chess Cup

Grandmasters Wesley So, Rogelio Antonio Jr, and Darwin Laylo expressed readiness and confidence that they will have better results in the upcoming World Chess Cup in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia from November 20 to December 15. So will compete in the world-class tournament for the first time while Antonio Jr. and Laylo are second-time campaigners. And to ensure that the three Filipino GMs will be at their best during the tournament, National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) president and chairman Prospero “Butch" Pichay tapped Asia’s first GM Eugene Torre’s services to help in their preparations. “Eugene’s long experience in international competition will surely help a lot," Pichay said. So and Laylo earned their trip to the world chess tilt after a 1-2 finish in the recent Asian Zone 3.3 chess championships in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Antonio, on the other hand, earned his berth during the Asian Individual Chess Championships in Subic early this year. “It’s a prestigious tournament kaya medyo excited ako. I’ll do my best to win and bring honors to our country," said So, currently the Philippines' highest-rated player with a 2646 ELO. Antonio and Laylo are of the same mind, saying that they will do everything to post better results compared to their last campaigns in the tournament. “We don’t know who will be our first-round opponents yet, but I can assure you that I will give my best and perform a lot better this time," said the 47-year-old Antonio who reached the second round of the World Cup in Las Vegas, United States in 1999. “Nung last time, umabot ako sa second round bago ako natalo, kaya dapat at least umabot man lang ako sa third round. Mahirap talaga kasi ang laban. Isang talo mo, sibak ka," added Antonio, who finished fifth in the Asian Individual Championships in Subic. Laylo for his part said that playing in the tournament with two other compatriots is a bonus as he will now have fellow Filipino players to consult with during the tournament. “This is a golden opportunity to prove my worth in the international stage, so I will prepare hard for it. At least ngayon, marami na kaming magkakasama, Hindi na malungkot at makakapagtulungan pa kami." As part of their training, the three will compete in the first Mayor Tinnex Jaraula-Butch Pichay Cup National Open chess championship on August 21-26 in Cagayan de Oro. The three World Chess Cup-bound woodpushers will also see action in the Asian Indoor Games grand finals at the Victory Central Mall on September 9-13; the fourth President GMA Cup international chess championship at the Duty Free Fiesta Mall in Parañaque City on September 24-30; and the fifth Pichay Cup championship in Bacolod City on October 1-8. For their last tournament before the World Chess Cup, the three will compete in a six-player, double-round robin tournament to gauge their preparedness. The three players will compete against Torre, and GMs John Paul Gomez and Mark Paragua. – Perry Legaspi, GMANews.TV