Filipino chessers trip Slovaks, climb to 12th

MANILA, Philippines — Woman FIDE Master Shania Mendoza and Woman International Master Marie San Diego stepped up and provided key victories for Team Philippines, which stunned fancied Slovakia, 2.5-1.5, to move to joint 12th after four rounds of the 43rd World Chess Olympiad in Batumi, Georgia Thursday night.

Mendoza, who drew her match in the team’s win over Venezuela in the previous round, squeezed her way into attacking position for a 42-move win over Woman Grandmaster Zuzana Cibickova in their Guioco Piano game on board three while San Diego, 19, methodically translated a pawn edge into a 51-move triumph over Dominika Ferkova in their Slav duel on board four.

WGM Janelle Mae Frayna, who led the Phl’s third round 3-1 win, settled for a draw this time, splitting the point with IM Eva Repkova in 41 moves of an English Opening on the top board to complete the victory that sent the Filipinas to joint 12th with 28 others with six match points.

Catherine Secopito, however, lost to Suzana Stockova on second board.

The Phl will next play No. 25 England, which trounced El Salvador, 4-0.

“Our preparation is starting to pay off,” said women’s coach GM Jayson Gonzales. “But we’re still not halfway through so there is no reason for us to rest. We need to keep working harder and make our country proud.”

While the women’s squad continued to gain, the men’s team faltered for the second straight time, bowing to Estonia, 1.5-2.5.

IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia failed to sustain his early kingside attack and lost his way in the endgame, yielding to GM Aleksandr Volodin in 82 moves of an English. GMs Julio Catalino Sadorra and John Paul Gomez and IM Haridas Pascua drew their matches with GM Kaido Kulaots, GM Ottomar Ladva and FM Ilja Sirosh, respectively.

Team Phl, which bowed to Croatia, 1-3, in the third round, fell to 66th place with only four points based on the event’s point system that gives two points to a win, one to a draw and zero for a loss.