3 Pinoys in Khanty-Mansiysk

He did it. GM Darwin Laylo not only books a seat in the World Chess Cup but he also took out the Zone 3.3 tournament that finished yesterday in Vietnam. Needing just a draw to secure first place, Laylo did better by beating his last round opponent, Singapore's GM Zhong Zhang rated 2613.

Below is my fave of his nine games from the event. It's a nice squeeze of Indonesian GM Megaranto.

2009 Zone 3.3, Vietnam
Laylo, Darwin
Megaranto, Susanto
E32

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Bb4+ 4. Nbd2 b6 5. a3 Bxd2+ 6. Qxd2 Bb7 7. g3 O-O 8. Bg2 d6 9. O-O a5 10. b3 Nbd7 11. Bb2 Qe7 12. Qc3 Rfe8 13. Rad1 Be4 14. Rfe1 c6 15. Nd2 Bxg2 16. Kxg2 Rec8 17. e4 d5 18. Qf3 Qd8 19. a4 Rab8 20. Ba3 dxe4 21. Nxe4 Nxe4 22. Rxe4 Nf6 23. Rf4 b5 24. d5 cxd5 25. axb5 e5 26. Rf5 Qe8 27. Bd6 e4 28. Qf4 Rb6 29. Bc7 Rb7 30. b6 a4 31. Rxf6 gxf6 32. cxd5 e3 33. bxa4 e2 34. Re1 Qd7 35. d6 Qc6+ 36. Kg1 Qd5 37. Qg4+ 1-0

As expected, GM Wesley So claimed the second place and he, too, will be off to the World Cup in Khanty-Mansiysk. In fact, both So and Laylo will join fellow Pinoy GM Rogelio Antonio in the World Cup. Antonio had already earlier qualified courtesy of his 6th place finish in the Asian Individual Chess Championships held in May 2009.