GRANDMASTER Julio Catalino Sadorra (2553) came up with a huge win with white, turning back GM Christopher Repka (2523) in 37 moves of a Slav defense to lead the Philippines to a 2.5-1.5 victory over No.48 Slovakia in the second round of the 43rd Chess Olympiad late Tuesday in Batumi, Georgia.
Sadorra had a brilliant sacrifice in his 11th move, giving up knight his for a pawn to launch a king’s side attack to get the opponent rook.
GM John Paul Gomez (2464), on the other hand, played black and also scored a win, defeating GM Tomas Petrik (2481) in 65 moves of a Ruy Lopez Opening.
IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia (2439) drew with IM Viktor Gazik (2486) using the white pieces after 65 moves of Dutch defense Leningrad variation, while IM Martin Nayhebaver (2466) prevented a humiliating loss of his team by crushing Fide Master Mari Joseph Logizesthai Turqueza (2360) after 41 moves of a Sicilian defense.
The 54th-ranked Philippines moved from 34th place to 36th and will next take on 18th seed Croatia, a winner over No.73 Monaco, 3.5-0.5.
“The veterans delivered the important points to win the match.” said National Chess Federation of the Philippines director Atty. Cliburn Anthony A. Orbe, who watched the games online.
On the other hand, Filipino GM Wesley So (2776) saved the top seed United States of America anew by securing an important victory against Luka Oboladze (2340) in 52 moves of a Sicilian defense to help seal a 2.5-1.5 win over No.65 Georgia Team 3, putting the US within the top 20.
Another Filipino GM, Buenaventura “Bong” Villamayor (2392), representing No.79 Singapore, managed to get half a point while playing white with GM Constantin Lupulescu (2606) in 37 moves of a Slav defense to save his team from a possible shut-lout loss to No.21 Romania.
Filipino IM Master Enrique Paciencia (2335), Woman Grandmaster Qianyun Gong (2321) and Fide Master Qing Aun Lee (2297), dropped their respective matches.
In the women’s section, the No.35 Slovenia edged the No.43 Philippines, 2.5-1.5.
Woman Grandmaster Janelle Mae Frayna (2287) defeated WIM Laura Unuk (2299) in 57 moves of a Catalan Opening, while WIM Catherine Perena-Secopito (2157) split the point with WFM Lara Janzelj (2254) in 32 moves of a Queen’s Indian defense.
However, WFM Shania Mae Mendoza (2113) bowed to WGM Jana Krivec (2185) in 65 moves of a Dutch defense; and WIM Marie Antoinette San Diego (2102) yielded to WFM Teja Vidic (2116).
The Filipinas slipped from the 27th to the 41st spot and will next face No.55 Venezuela, which suffered a 0-4 loss to No.5 India.
“We hope to bounce back in the next match. We gave them a fight and only lost by the narrowest of margins. Janelle won on Board 1 against a slightly higher-rated opponent,” said . Orbe, who is also the founding president of the Philippine Executive Chess Association. (PR)