GM  Darwin Laylo, NM AlconJohn Datu  and  Francesca Largo shared the  limelight in the recent  2019 Pampanga Open and Kiddies FIDE-rated  chess tournament held at the Marque Mall in Angeles City, Pampanga last Jan. 5.

Laylo  topped the Open division despite finishing in a big group of players with seven points. 

Laylo, however,  emerged with the tiebreak score.

IM Roel Abelgas finished second behind Laylo.

Also with similar scores of seven points are Samson Lim, FM Nelson Villanueva, IM Ronald Dableo, Don Tyrone Delos Santos, Istraelito Rilloraza, Lennon Hart Salgados and Antonio Almodal III.

Datu finished the nine-round competition tournament with 8.5 points on eight wins and one draw to emerge as champion.

Datu pocketed the top prize of P6,000  for his effort in the tournament sanctioned by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines  (NCFP), headed by president /chairman Prospero “Butch” Pichay.

Largo, on the other hand, wound up with six points on six wins and one loss to bring home the champion’s purse of P3,000 and trophy in the kiddies section.

Also with six points are Jerome Adrian, who finished runner-up; and  Aragones, who came in third.

Compelting the  Top 8 finishers are Jeremy Marticio, fourth placer; Zeus Alexis Paglinawan, fifth; Lexie Grace Hernandez, sixth place; April Joy Claros, seventh place; and Allan Gabriel Hillario, eioghth placer.

Oshrie Jhames Constantino Reyes,7, was adjudged as the top youngest player in the kiddies division.

The event is supervised by Jose Fernando Camaya, Edward Serrano, Ilann Perez, Nestor Barbosa, Alexander Dinoy and Alfredo Chay of the Chess Arbiter Union of the Philippines  (CAUP).