By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
The Philippine men’s team held its ground and salvaged a gutsy 2-2 draw against higher-ranked Israel in the 6th round of the 44th World Chess Olympiad Wednesday in Chennai, India.
Grandmaster Banjo Barcenilla produced a board two victory over Tamir Nabaty while GMs Mark Paragua and Darwin Laylo split the point with Avital Boruchovsky and Ilia Smirin on boards one and three, respectively.
Not fortunate was International Master Paulo Bersamina who yielded to Evgeny Postny on board four.
Despite the gallant showing, the 52nd-ranked Filipinos slipped to a share of 14th place from joint 8th with 10 others with nine match points each.
The Filipinos expect a much tougher match in the seventh round as they face fifth seed Poland, which is coming off a 2.5-1.5 loss to Serbia.
The women’s crew, likewise, were held to a similar 2-2 draw against lower-ranked Ecuador to skid for a share of 48th place with seven match points.
Kylen Joy Mordido was the lone winner for the Filipinas after beating Analia Karen Miranda Vargas on board four .
Jan Jodilyn Fronda and Marie Antoinette San Diego halved the point with Carla Heredia Serrano and Josselyne Penafidel Mendoza on boards one and three.
Shania Mendoza, for her part, suffered a board two defeat to Anahi Ortiz Verdezoto.
The 39th-seeded Filipinas hope to regain their composure when they face No. 60 Bolivia, which prevailed over Kenya, 3-1.
