Phl chessers off to big start in Olympiad

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines scored an expected romp over Afghanistan, 3.5-0.5, despite its depleted men’s roster while its women’s squad blanked Palau, 4-0, at the start of the 41st World Chess Olympiad in Tromso, Norway Saturday night.

GMs Julio Catalino Sadorra, John Paul Gomez and Eugene Torre stamped their class over FIDE Masters Mahbuboollah Kooshani and Zaherudden Asefi and  Hamidullah Saraery, respectively, while IM Paulo Bersamina failed to convert his edge in position and settled for a draw with Zabiullah Ahmadi in his Olympiad debut.

In contrast, Sadorra, a standout at University of Texas in Dallas, fashioned out a 32-move win in his English Opening clash with Kooshani in his first stint in the biennial event. He gained a slight positional advantage in the early going and went a pawn up before forcing his rival to resign with a mate threat in two.

Gomez, for his part, employed the Benko Gambit to overwhelm Asefi, gaining a material advantage in the middlegame before forcing Asefi to give up on the 49th.

Torre, in his record 22nd Olympiad appearance, won by default over Sarwary. 

Meanwhile, Cheradine Camacho, Janelle Mae Frayna and Catherine Perena all won via checkmates against Angelica Parrado, Baby Edna Mission and Destiny Sisior, respectively while Jan Jodilyn Fronda completed the shutout with a walkover win against Gladys Anne Paloma on Board 3.

The Phl will take on Bosnia Herzegovina, which blanked Nepal, 4-0, in the men’s side and International Chess Committee of the Deaf, a 3.5-0.5 winner over Ethiopia, in the women’s section in the second round Sunday night.