Sadorra replaces Barbosa in Phl chess team

MANILA, Philippines - GM Julio Catalino Sadorra flew in straight from the US to Tromso, Norway yesterday to join the undermanned Philippine men’s team facing overwhelming odds in today’s start of the 41st World Chess Olympiad.

Sadorra, who played college chess in the US for University of Texas-Dallas, will now man the top board in the absence of the country’s two best players in GMs Wesley So and Oliver Barbosa.

So has long announced he would switch allegiance with the US Chess Federation and will be one of the coaches of the US men’s team in the Olympiad while Barbosa failed to make it due to visa delays.

GM John Paul Gomez will thus play Board 2 while newly minted IM Paulo Bersamina will take over the spot left by So and will man the fourth board.

GM Eugene Torre, 63, will play Board 3 in a record 22nd stint in the biennial tournament, an Olympiad mark for most number of appearances.

GM Jayson Gonzales will serve as playing team captain after US-based GM Rogelio Barcenilla, Jr. begged off at the last-minute, citing terror threats in Tromso.

Barcenilla initially declined three days ago, changed his mind the following but begged off again, forcing Gonzales to play as an alternate.

“We’re here to just play for flag and country regardless of the condition,” Gomez yesterday told The STAR.

The Phl’s first round opponent will be known in today’s captains’ meeting.