Good fight

Seeing a Filipino beating another Filipino in an international event is an encouraging sign.

If you missed the Round 3 match between GM Darwin Laylo and IM Richard Bitoon in the Zone 3.3 FIDE World Chess Championships in Vietnam, then you deprived yourself of one of the beauties of chess.

Personally, I would like to nominate this particular game for the best game award (should there is) in the event.

The way GM Laylo pressed for the all-out attack and the way IM Bitoon fought till his last breath, figuratively, revealed a naked truth that the real beauty in chess is undressed when competitors kill each other - ruthlessly - over the board.

For me, the ultimate winner in Laylo-Bitoon match is Philippine chess. It's the kind of battle - played in an international arena - that we can be proud of to show to the whole world.

Watch it to believe.