Tuesday, November 11, 2008 RP team leaves for Olympiad
MANILA - The 10-man Philippine chess team led by non-playing team captain Eugene Torre leaves for Dresden, Germany today to see action in the 38th World Chess Olympiad slated on Nov. 11-27.
GMs Wesley So and Buenaventura “Bong” Villmayor carries with them the hopes of a nation seeking for another major sporting triumph before the end of the year.
Aside from So and Villamayor, others in the team are equally-talented GMs Jayson Gonzales, Darwin Laylo and IM John Paul Gomez. in the men’s squad, which is seeking to improve its 44th-place finish in Turin, Italy two years ago
Catherine Perena, Shercila Cua, Daisy Rivera, Cheradee Chardine Camacho and Christy Lamiel Bernales composed the women’s squad, which is hoping to surpass, its record 23rd-place finish in the 2006 Olympiad.
“Good luck to all of you and make the country proud with your achievements in the chess world,” said National Chess Federation of the Philippines NCFP) president Prospero “Butch” Pichay during a pre-departure meeting with the players and team officials.
Previous teams
“Although not as experienced as the teams to the previous Olympiads, this is a young but talented team capable of pulling off surprises in the royal game of chess,” added Pichay, who is on his second Olympiad since taking over the helm of the chess association.
Pichay, who begged off from joining the team due to previous commitments as chairman of the Local Water Utilities Administration, will be with the squad on Nov. 22 to attend the FIDE Congress where he is expected to deliver a speech on behalf of Asian countries.
The players will be accompanied by NCFP executive director Willie Abalos, NCFP director Judge Gonzalo Mapili, team captains Torre and Cesar Caturla and coach Idlefonso Datu.
In the 2006 Olympiad in Turin, the five-man team of Torre, So, Laylo and GMs Mark Paragua, Rogelio Antonio Jr. and IM Oliver Dimakiling finished a fighting 44th place with a 13-round total of 28.5 points.
Pichay expressed confidence that the RP team will fare even better.
“Bong (Villamayor) can hold his own on Board 1, while So will be a strong entry on Board 2,” said Pichay, who also thanked Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman William “Butch” Ramirez for his timely assistance to the RP team. (FCC)
