Grandmaster Darwin Laylo remains optimistic about his campaign in the ongoing AQ Prime ASEAN Chess Championship at the Great Eastern Hotel in Quezon City.

After seven rounds, the reigning national champion is tied for the lead with tournament top seed, GM Susanto Megaranto of Indonesia, and Filipino International Master Paulo Bersamina with 4.5 points.

“I hope I keep the momentum going,” said the 42-year-old Laylo on Wednesday night. His match against IM Daniel Quizon ended in a draw after 10 moves of the English Opening.

Laylo, the reigning national champion, and Quizon are players of the Dasmariñas Chess Academy of Representative Elpidio Barzaga Jr. (Cavite 4th District).

Megaranto, the blitz gold medalist at the 2019 Manila SEA Games, settled for a 48-move draw of a Sicilian Defense with IM Li Tian Yeoh of Malaysia,

Bersamina also split the point with CM Khuong Duy Dau of Vietnam after 160 moves of a Ruy Lopez Opening.

GM John Paul Gomez of Biñán, Laguna defeated FM Prin Laohawirapap of Thailand to keep solo second place with 4.0 points.

Meanwhile, IM Rolando Nolte’s back-to-back losses ended his hopes of earning a second GM norm in the 11-round competition organized by IM Roderick Nava of Kamatyas Chess Club and sponsored by AQ Prime President Atty. Aldwin Alegre, a former member of the Emilio Aguinaldo College chess team.

After bowing to Laylo in 39 moves of the Center Counter Games in Round 6, the former University of Manila standout fell to IM Yoseph Theolifus Taher of Indonesia.

Nolte, Quizon, Ervan, Taher and Yeoh are sharing fifth place with 3.5 points. Dau and GM Nguyen Van Huy of Vietnam have identical 2.5 points while Laohawirapap has 2.0 points. (PNA)