INQUIRER Sports

LOS ANGELES California?After blowing his opening round match, Filipino International Master (IM) Enrico "Ikong" Sevillano bounced back by beating Charles Lawton in the second round of the ongoing 2009 US Chess Championship on Saturday at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis in Missouri, USA.

The Cebuano native Sevillano, supported by sportsman Matias "Bombi" Aznar Jr., won after 88 moves using the white pieces of the Modern Defense.

The Tehachapi-based Sevillano yielded to defending champion GM Yury Shulman in the first round on Friday.

Sevillano is eyeing to follow the footsteps of newly-minted grandmaster (GM) Joseph Sanchez also from Cebu. Sevillano's third round assignment is IM Michael Brooks.

Former University of Manila (UM) standout Ruben Ondangan, a friend of Sevillano, said yesterday during the dinner night hosted by Pastor John "Jojo" Culaniban of the Heritage Christian Church in Bakersfield, that the depth of Sevillano?s opening preparation is vital to his success in this tournament./ correspondent MARLON BERNARDINO.