PH cloned Slovenia, men conceded to Greece
The Filipinos stunned the higher-ranked Slovenians at the Chess Olympiad
MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine women’s team maintained its upward momentum while the men’s team slipped in the eighth round of the 44th Chess Olympiad on Saturday, August 6, in Chennai, India.
The Filipino women defeated the higher-ranked Slovenian women by 2.5-1.5, behind Grandmaster Janelle Mae Frayn and International Master Jan Jodilyn Fronda, and shared 17th to 27th place among 161 teams in the women’s category.
Frayna held off IM Laura Umuk while Fronda tamed WIM Zalah Urh for the deciding points while WIM Kylen Joy Mordido drew with WIM Tejo Vidic on board 4.
WIM Marie Antoinette San Diego bowed to Lara Janzelj on deck 3.
After a 3.5-0.5 win over the Bolivians in Round 7, the Philippines climbed to 11 points compared to solo leader India’s 15 points and Georgia’s 14 points.
After back-to-back draws against higher-rated Israel and Poland, the Filipinos dropped to the Greeks, 1.5-2.5, to share 35th to 57th place among 187 teams in the open division.
New York GM Mark Paraguay, who shocked 2021 World Cup winner Jan-Krzysztof Duda in Round 7, drew with Dimitrios Mastrovasilis on board 1, as did GM John Paul Gomez and IM Paulo Bersamina against Athanasios Mastrovasilis and Hristos Banikas on board 3 and 4 or
However, Arizona GM Rogelio Barcenillas lost to Nikolaos Theodorou on board 2 as the two Filipinos were held to 10 points.
Armenia leads the Open standings with 15 points, followed by India 2, who shook up the tournament with a 3-1 win over Super GM Team USA.
GM D. Gukesh maintained his perfect run at the expense of Fabian Caruana on board 1, while GM Raunak Sadhwani stunned Leinier Dominguez on board 4.
Nihal Saril and R. Praggnanandhaa held off Levon Aronian and Philippine-born Wesley Soy on board 2 and 3, respectively.
The Filipinos face the 24th-seeded Georgians in the ninth round on Sunday.
Team captain GM Eugene Torre will play Paraguay against GM Baadur Jobava, Gomez against Mikhel Mchellishvili, Layla against Luka Paichadze and Bersamina against Levan Pantsulaia.
The Filipinos, led by GM Jayson Gonzales, will clash with the 12th-ranked Hungarians. Frayna will return against GM Tranh Tranh Hoang and WGM Traa Gara, while WFM Shania Mae Mendoza will battle IM Szidonia Lazarne. Mordido takes on WIM Zsoka Gaal on board 4. – Rappler.com