Docena heroics secure RP draw

DOHA — Fourteen-year-old Jedara Docena pulled off a victory against a Woman Fide Master three years her senior to help the Philippines to a 1.5-1.5 draw with United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the second round the mixed team classical chess competition in the 15th Asian Games at the Al Dana indoor hall here Thursday night.

Docena, an untitled player making her first international stint, salvaged the victory in 51 moves of the Slav Opening against WIM Noura Mouhamed Saleh.

Ronald Dableo, the international master on the RP squad, managed a marathon 120-move draw with fellow IM Abdulla Hasan Al-Hammad on board two, but Darwin Laylo lost his rhythm after playing consistently in the rapid event and in the classical’s first round and lost in 45 moves also of the Slav to grandmaster Talib Moosa Ibrahim.

The draw, however, sort of kept the Filipinos hopes alive in the third and final event of chess.

After two rounds of play in the event that carries the nine-round Swiss system, game points scoring format, the Philippines found itself tied with UAE at 15th place with 2 points. — Dante Navarro