Chess Olympiad: Phl battles Libya

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines drew lowly Libya as it opens its bid in the 40th World Chess Olympiad which unfolded late last night at the Wow Convention Center in Istanbul, Turkey.

The 35th seeded Filipinos, led by super Grandmaster Wesley So, GMs Eugene Torre, Mark Paragua and Oliver Barbosa and FIDE Master Oliver Dimakiling, are out to erase the spectre of its worst ever 50th place finish in the last staging of the biennial event.

They were expected to score a decisive win against the 113th-ranked Libyans at presstime.

Libya is composed of Elarbi Abobker, Mansour Abdallah, FM Al-Zayat Ahmed, Asabri Husein and Asabri Hussan.

The Phl’s women’s team of Catherine Perena, Rulph Ylem Jose, Jannelle Mae Frayna, Jedera Docena and Jan Jodilyn Fronda is ranked 57th and will battle No. 121 Pakistan, which comprised of Wasif Zenubia, Siddiqui Nida Mishraz, Khuaja Ghazala Shabbir, Khuaja Fatima Shabbir and Mehak Gul.

The women’s side is looking to improve its 44th place finish in the last Olympiad in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia two years ago.

Torre, grieving over the loss of his mother, joined the Philippine team, which flew 11 hours to be in the culture-rich city considered as Asia’s doorway to Europe.

Torre is on a record 21 Olympiad stint, breaking away from Hungarian GM Lajos Portisch, whom he used to share the honors with.