Antonio, Laylo in winner-take-all battle

TAKE your pick: GM Rogelio Antonio, Jr. or GM Darwin Laylo Antonio and Laylo, two of the country's winningest players in both local and international stage, will face off in a Winner-Take-All Challenge Match at Lichess on June 7.

At stake in the one-day, race-to-15 match supported by Europe-based businessman-sportsman Kim Zafra is P20,000.

Odds are about even between Antonio, who became the country's third GM in Baguio City in 1993, and Laylo, who achieved his GM title during the Asian Chess Championship in Cebu City in 2007.

"Magandang laban ito. GM Darwin is a very good player so I have to keep my focys every game," said Antonio, the pride of Calapan,  Mindoro and 13-time national champion.

Laylo is just as excited.

“I am preparing very hard for this match (against Antonio).  Magandang laban ito, " said the 39-year-old Laylo,  who.emerhed as the top Filipino scorer in the  Asian Continental Chess Championship in Xingtai, China last year.

Before their  face off, Antonio and Laylo will compete in the first Baby Uno  invitational online chess tournament on May 29

The event is organized by Bayanihan Chess Club, led by Marlon Bernardino and Genghis Imperial in cooperation with Kim Zafra, Jimmy Reyes, Danilo Ebao and Pretty Zada Skincare Products.

Also invited to participate are IM Barlo Nadera, FM Dale Bernardo, PECA president Dr. Fred Paez, Dr. Jenny Mayor, Mark Rodrigo, Abel Dimalanta , Levi Miranda, Glenn Hullana Garcia, national para games coach James Infiesto and coach Ederwin Estavillo.

The others in the list are  as Oshrie James and Prince Reyes, Ivan Travis, Jericho Winston Cu, Bonjoure Fille Suyamin, Austin Kloe Roan and Tyrone Tabernilla.