Datu keys RP’s win vs China

NM Idelfonso Datu pulled off a stirring win over GM Wu Wenjin in their Queen’s Gambit-Decline game as the National Chess Federation of the Phils.-backed Philippine team stunned China, 2.5-1.5, Saturday in the seventh round of the World Chess Olympics in Istanbul, Turkey.

Datu, a talented but often overshadowed player back home, pawnstormed white’s kingside relentlessly to gain the initiative then sustained the attack with a superb rook-queen offensive on a semi-open f-file, forcing the bespectacled Chinese to commit a blunder on the 41st move. The Filipino clinched the victory four moves later when Wu resigned with an inevitable loss of a rook.

GMs Eugene Torre held Super GM Ye Jiangchuan to a draw in their Trompovsky game, so did GM Bong Villamayor and IM Barlo Nadera, who halved the point with GMs Xu Jun and Peng Xiaomin, respectively.

The victory, fashioned out without GM Rogelio Antonio, Jr., who was down with a swollen gum, thus ended the Chinese domination of the Filipinos in a highly-competitive competition and it boosted the latter’s bid halfway through the 13-round Swiss system event.

The Philippines is tied for 10th place with Bulgaria and it will have its hands full against sixth ranked Ukraine, a team headed by Super GMs Vassily Ivanchuk and Ruslan Ponomariov.

The RP women’s team likewise scored a 2.5-0.5 victory over Malaysia on victories by Beverly Mendoza and Leah Bernardo over S. Lee and Z. Siti, respectively, while highly-fancied Arianne Caoili drew with Jean Lim on the top board.