INQUIRER Sports

ROGELIO ?Joey? Antonio Jr., (2574) failed to exploit his minor advantage Sunday against defending champion GM Gata Kamsky (2695) of the United States and managed only a draw in their second match to bow out of the World Chess Cup in Khanty Mansiysk, Russia.

However, compatriots grandmasters Wesley So (2640) and Darwin Laylo (2552) forged do-or-die battles against their respective opponents.

Antonio, lost to Kamsky in his pet Caro-Kann Opening in 42 moves in their first match on Saturday and with Sunday?s draw, Kamsky advanced to the next round with a, 1.5-0.5 victory. He will next face the winner of the match between GM Emil Sutovsky of Israel and GM Zhou Weiqi of China.

Meanwhile, So drew first blood against Azeri GM Gadir Guseinov (2625) by winning Saturday?s first game, but lost the second game to allow two tie break games.

Laylo, on the other hand lost against GM David Navara (2707) in the first round but rebounded with massive win on Sunday to force a tie-break.

Antonio, So and Laylo backed up by NCFP president Prospero ?Butch? Pichay Jr. and PSC chairman Harry Angping, are already guaranteed $6,000 each for making it to the 128-player main draw in the event organized by the World Chess Federation.

Meanwhile, top seed GM Boris Gelfand (2758) of Israel edged IM Andrei Obodchuk (2404) of Russia in his opening game.

Also advancing to the next round are No.2 GM Vugar Gashimov (2758) of Azerbaijan, No.3 GM Peter Svidler (2754) of Russia, No.4 GM Alexander Morozevich (2750) of Russia, No.5 GM Teimour Radjabov (2748) of Azerbaijan, No.6 GM Vassily Ivanchuk. Correspondent Marlon Bernardino