By Rey Bancod
The Philippines crashed into the Top 20 following a narrow 2.5-1.5 victory over Zambia Wednesday in the ninth round of the 43rd World Chess Olympiad in Batumi, Georgia.
It was the fourth straight triumph for the Filipinos who had fallen to as low as 101st place following three straight losses in the early stages of the 11-round event.
Zambia, ranked a lowly 95th, gave the Filipinos a stiff fight before International Master Jan Emmanuel Garcia secured the victory at board three.
Grandmasters Julio Catalino Sadorra and John Paul Gomez drew their matches in the first two boards, the same result posted by IM Haridas Pascua in board four.
The Filipinos now have 12 points in a tie for 20th place with 13 other nations.
Poland, ranked 11th, stunned the United States, 2.5-1.5, to seize the solo lead with 16 points, a full point ahead of the US, China, Armenia and England.
In women’s play, the Philippines completed the double kill by whipping South Korea, 3-1.
WGM Janelle Mae Frayna, WFM Shania Mae Mendoza and WIM Bernadette Galas disposed of their opponents. WIM Marie Antoinette San Diego was the lone casualty at board three.
The Filipinas improved to a tie for 33rd place with 11 points, 5 points behind solo leader China. Ukraine, Armenia and the United States were tied for second with 14 points.
Sadorra, playing white, threw away a winning position against IM Andrew Kayonde and settled for a draw after 31 moves of an English Opening.
Playing black, Gomez and Pascua were forced to draws by FM Douglas Munenga and Prince Daniel Mulenga, respectively.
After scoring only 1.5 points in the first four rounds, Garcia has shown marked improvement with two wins and the same number of draws.
Handling white, Garcia needed 59 moves to convert a pawn advantage into victory against untitled Kela Kaulule Siame.
“The last two rounds is the hour of reckoning,” said non-playing team captain GM Eugene Torre who has used the same lineup in the last four rounds. “Sila na rin siguro magtatapos.”
FM Mari Joseph Turqueza, the team’s reserve player, saw action only thrice, winning once and losing twice.
“Turqueza is contributing a lot in helping me in the opening preparations of all his teammates,” said Torre.
The Filipinos take on Ecuador in the penultimate round Thursday.
Meanwhile, the women’s team bounced back through Frayna who clobbered WFM Wang Chengjia for fourth win against two losses and three draws.
Mendoza dumped WFM Roza Eynula while Galas blasted untitled Kim Yubin.
San Diego, however, bowed to Park Sunwoo at board three.
