Men’s chess team trips Zambia, lands in top 20

MANILA, Philippines — International Master Jan Emmanuel Garcia saved the day for the Philippines, which edged a surprisingly tough Zambia, 2.5-1.5, to barge into the top 20 after nine rounds of the 43rd World Chess Olympiad in Batumi, Georgia Wednesday night.

Garcia, 22, outplayed Kela Kaulule Siame in 60 moves of an English duel on board three for the match-clincher as Grandmasters Julio Catalino Sadorra and John Paul Gomez and IM Haridas Pascua fought to draws with IM Andrew Kayonde, FIDE Master Douglas Munebga and Prince Daniel Mulenga on boards one, two and four, respectively.

The Filipinos registered their fourth straight match victory as they joined a 14-country logjam at No. 20 with 12 points, four behind solo leader Poland, which stunned defending champion United States, 2.5-1.5, with 16.

The Philippines, seeded 54th, could climb even farther up the standings as it was favored against 78th seed Ecuador in their match in the penultimate round. Ecuador was a 2.5-1.5 winner over South Africa in the previous round.

In women’s play, the Team Phl bounced back from a pair of stinging setbacks with a 3-1 triumph over South Korea with wins coming from WGM Janelle Mae Frayna, WFM Shania Mae Mendoza and WIM Bernadette Galas on boards one, two and four.

WIM Marie Antoinette San Diego lost to Park Sunwoo on board three.

The Pinay chessers thus jumped into a 13-country tie at No. 33 with 11 points and could improve even more as they were battling Moldova at press time.