Torre loses, but RP gains, 3-1

BLED – The Philippines survived a second defeat by Eugene Torre to swamp Tajikistan, 3-1, and earn another shot at climbing closer to the top 10 at the sixth round of 35th Chess Olympiad here Thursday.

Torre, using a Pirc Defense, fell prey to a rampaging kingside attack from FIDE Master Farrukh Amonatiov who forced him to surrender a piece on the 24th move and then his rook for a knight.

Down by a whole rook, Torre resigned in 39 moves.

But his two fellow grandmasters, Joey Antonio, and Bong Villamayor, outplayed their opponents, and a triumph by Mark Paragua rounded off the score to 3-1.

Antonio gave up a rook to setup a massive attack, which forced International Master Jamshed Isaev to give up in 44 moves of a Scotch Game.

Villamayor finally broke out of his poor form and handed untitled Rashid Khouseinov defeat in 43 moves of a French Defense. Paragua’s mating attack in a Queen’s Gambit Declined also netted him a win in 38 moves.

The rout hoisted the Filipinos to share of 26th to 29th places with India, Argentina and Uzbekistan with 14.5 points. The Philippines drew the tough Indian squad, which advanced by whipping Bolivia,3-1, as its seventh round opponent.

A victory over India, which is being trained by Russian coach Evgeny Vladimirov who was one of the seconds of Garry Kasparov, would mark the start of a big comeback by the Philippine team.

"We are in perfect position to advance," said Samuel Estimo, the Philippines men captain.

The Philippine women’s team, which routed Wales, 2.5-.5, also got another chance to barge into the elite top 20 circle. They will meet the unlucky Israel team as they try to break out of a logjam for 30th to 35th places.