Friday, May 26, 2006
RP fails to gain vs Colombia
By Charles Raymond A. Maxey
THE Philippine men's team fielded its strongest players against lowly Colombia in the fourth round Wednesday with the hope of gaining ground in the 37th World Chess Olympiad in Turin, Italy.
Negative result.
Colombia held the Philippines to a 2-2 draw as all four matches ended in draws, stalling the Filipinos' bid of gaining headway following a defeat at the hands of the Americans the previous round.
Grandmasters Mark Paragua, Eugene Torre and Rogelio Antonio Jr., and FM Wesley So all couldn't push the Filipinos up in the standings after encountering stiff resistance from the Colombians.
The Filipinos, seeded 35th, play 62nd seed Lithuania in the fifth round.
Mark Paragua, the highest ranked Filipino with an ELO rating of 2617, even had to salvage a draw with the black pieces in a Bishop pawn endgame against IM Alexander Cuartas.
Torre, handling the white pieces, halved the point with IM Alder Escobar; Antonio drew with IM Sergio Barrientos; and the 12-year-old So settled for a draw with FM Rafael Mendoza after 28 moves of a Bishop Opening.
The Filipinos now have 9.5 points and share 45th to 55th placer along with Lithuania.
Oliver Dimakiling of Davao City was rested for the first time after playing in the first three rounds.
The alternate player had a good showing so far, going 2 for 3.
Reigning national champion Darwin Laylo complete the cast of the RP team in the meet. Laylo is 1-1 so far.
In women's play, the Filipinas absorbed a .5-2.5 beating at the hands of Kazakhstan.
WIM Dana Aketayeva and Gulmira Dauletova crushed WFM Sheerie Joy Lomibao and WIM Beverl Mendoza) on board one and three, respectively.
Thanks to 2005 Southeast Asian Games silver medallist Catherine Pereñaa, the shutout was averted after she drew with WIM Sofya Zigangirova.
With the loss, the No. 60 seed Filipinas now have 6.5 points.
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (May 26, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
