So, Torre boost Team Phl to 2nd overall

GUANGZHOU – The Philippines leaned on the old and young guards of chess to press its bid for a medal as it shocked second seed India, 2.5-1.5, to seize solo second behind powerhouse China after five rounds in the Asian Games at the Guangzhou Chess Institute here yesterday.

Wesley So, 17, outwitted GM Pentala Harikrishna in their keenly-watched board one showdown while Eugene Torre, 59, defeated GM B. Adhiban on board four to highlight the Filipinos’ stunning victory over their highly-fancied rivals.

GM Joey Antonio drew with GM Krishnan Sasikiran on the second board to cushion the impact of the loss of GM John Paul Gomez, the hero in Phl’s 2.5-1.5 win over Kazakhstan in the fourth round, to GM Surya Shekhar Ganguly.

The surprise win propelled the sixth-seeded Filipinos to solo second place with eight points behind top seed China which has 10 points heading into the last four rounds.

China trounced Iran, 3-1, behind the victories of GMs Bu Xiangzhi and Zhou Jianchao over GM Homayoon Toufighi and IM Ashgar Golizadeh in the lower boards.

The Filipinos hope to sustain their charge as they take on Uzbekistan, which drew with Kazakhstan in the sixth round.

The Uzbeks are bannered by GM Rustam Kasimdzhanov and Anton Filippov with the former bagging the individual gold medal in the rapid chess competitions last week.