Grandmaster Darwin Laylo turned back Andrew Casiano in the 12th and last round to rule the GM Rosendo Balinas, Jr. Chess Challenge done online Tuesday night.
The 41-year-old Olympiad and World Cup veteran finished with 11 points on 10 wins and two draws to top the event that drew 271 participants and used a blitz time control.
FIDE Master Sander Severino, the 2019 world champion for people with physical disability, split the point with International Master Michael Concio, Jr. to end up at second with 9.5 points.
GM Joey Antonio also wound up with 9.5 points like Mr. Severino but lost on tiebreaks to place third.
Category winners in the event organized by the Bayanihan Chess Club were Jonathan Tan (senior), Jerlyn Mae San Diego (lady), Christian Gian Karlo Arca (kiddie), Marlon Bernardino (media), Henry Lopez (PWD), and Genghis Imperial (local). — Joey Villar