MANILA, Philippines – Grandmaster Mark Paragua dug deep into his endgame bag of tricks as he carved out the nerve-wracking victory on top board in lifting the Philippines to a stunning 2.5-1.5 win over a fancied Sweden in the fifth round Tuesday night and into the top 10 of the 44th World Chess Olympiad in Chennai, India.
Left with the responsibility of carrying the fight after GMs John Paul Gomez and Darwin Laylo and International Master Paulo Bersamina drew their respective games in the lower boards, the 38-year-old Paragua willfully went for a win when he could have easily sent his duel with GM Erik Blomqvist into a draw.
The New York-based veteran of multiple World Cups built on a slim lead brick by brick, layer by layer until he got the much needed break against an unnerved Blomqvist and turned it into lasting advantage.
When it was over, his unnerved higher-rated foe was facing the specter of losing his rook to Paragua and resigned on the 69th move.
The emphatic win sent the Filipinos, who are being sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission, into an 18-nation logjam at eighth spot with eight match points apiece. It also set them up for a highly anticipated duel with 21st-ranked Israel in the sixth round at press time for a chance at climbing up into the top five along with the big guns.
The country was just two points behind co-leaders India 2 and Armenia, which own perfect scores of 10 points, and a point closer to third to seventh placers Uzbekistan, India 1, Cuba, Iran and a Wesley So-paced United States of America with nine points each.
National men’s coach Eugene Torre said they would rest Gomez in favor of GM Banjo Barcenilla.
It was, in contrast, heartbreaking for the Filipinas as Janelle Mae Frayna lost to Eline Roebers on top board that sealed their 2.5-1.5 defeat at the hands of the higher-ranked Swedes.
WIM Marie Antoinette San Diego prevailed over FIDE Master Machteld Van Foreest on board three while WGM candidate Kylen Joy Mordido halved the point with WIM Rosa Ratsma on board four.
WIM Jan Jodilyn Fronda fell to grizzled veteran GM Peng Zhaoqin on second board.
The GM Jayson Gonzales-mentored Filipinas slipped to a 35-nation tie at 39th with six points and they were facing the Ecuadorians in the sixth round.