An Army sergeant bested ten other chess grandmasters to rule the 2022/2023 National Chess Championship on February 7, 2023 in Malolos City, Bulacan.
Sergeant Darwin Laylo earned 6.5 points to edge out other ten chess grandmasters in the National Chess Championship’s open category. His victory assures him of a slot in the upcoming Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games scheduled on November 2023 to be held in Bangkok and Chonburi, Thailand.
The tournament—which ran from February 1 to February 7, 2023—is organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines and is sanctioned by the Philippine Sports Commission.
The Army leadership lauded Sgt. Laylo for his victory. The 42-year-old Army grand master ruled the National Chess Championships for the third time, replicating his feats in 2004 and 2006.
Photos from the Special Service Center, Installation Management Command, Philippine Army