Chessers prevail on both sides

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines rebounded strong in both divisions as the men’s team whipped Pakistan, 3-1, and the women’s squad drubbed Costa Rica, 3.5-0.5, to improve their respective rankings heading to the last two rounds of the 41st Chess Olympiad in Tromso, Norway Monday.

GMs John Paul Gomez and Jayson Gonzales beat IM Shahzad Mirza and untitled Mudasir Iqbal, on Boards 2 and 4, respectively, to deliver the match-clinching victories for Team Phl, which hiked its points total to 10 for joint 54th. The Filipinos take on the No. 10 Bolivia in the penultimate round of the 11-round championship.

GM Julio Catalino Sadorra and IM Paul Bersamina, taking the spot on Board 3 for GM Eugene Torre, battled IM Mahmood Lodhi and Ali Ahmad Syed to a pair of draws to secure the victory.

The Filipinas, on the other hand, relied on victories of Janelle Mae Frayna, Catherine Perena and Christy Lamiel Bernales over Olga Leticia Gamboa Alvarado, Lisseth Acevedo Mendez and Maria Jose Ramirez Gonzalez to fashion out the lopsided win.

Jan Jodilyn Fronda, however, failed to squeeze out a win despite going one pawn up at endgame, settling for a draw in 73 moves of a Sicilian Defense.

The Filipinas improved with 11 points for a share of 26th but will face Latvia in the 10th round.

Gonzales, meanwhile, posted his first victory in Olympiad play, beating Iqbal in 34 moves of a Benoni duel. He went a pawn up and had two active bishops after a brief exchange en route to victory.

Gomez, on the other hand, bounced back from a string of disappointing results with a win. He later earned a wildcard berth in the all-expenses paid trip to the Qatar Masters slated Nov. 25-Dec. 5 where he will have a chance to compete against some of the world’s best headed by Shakhriya Mamedyarov, Pentala Harikrishna, Etienne Bacrot and Alexei Shirov.