By Kristel Satumbaga
FIDE Master Sander Severino struggled to find his form but it did not stop its International Physically Disabled Chess Association (IPCA) team from finishing second and advancing to Division II in the first FIDE Online Olympiad 2020 Sunday.
Severino scored only three points in six games he played, but it was enough to help his squad to a second-place finish with 14 match points in Division III’s Pool B and snare one of the three sets to the next phase.
Portugal booked the top spot with 15 points while Scotland was third with 14.
Severino, who won the IPCA world title last month to secure the right to play top board for the group, won his first two games but lost the third via forfeiture due to power outage back home in Silay City, Negros Occidental Friday.
The many-time ASEAN and Asian Para Games gold medalist then did not play the next three rounds Saturday, again because of brownout.
Finally getting reprieved from Mayor Mark Golez, who allowed him to play in a city-owned office with a generator, Severino was on his way to beating FM Isuru Alahakoon but an internet connection glitch prevented him from doing so and lost via forfeiture.
It led to a heartbreaking 4-2 defeat to Sri Lanka that would have been a 3-3 deadlock had Severino won.
After winning by default against Nigeria in the eighth and penultimate round, Severino went for a win in an easily drawn duel with International Master Muhammad Khusenkhojaev that backfired as he lost the match for a 3-3 split with Tajikistan.
