Solid start for Philippine chessers

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines opened its bid for an ambitious top 10 finish after blanking a listless Togo and Malawi, 4-0, in the men’s and women’s sections, respectively, Wednesday in the 46th World Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

Michael Concio, Jr., Pau Bersamina, Daniel Quizon and Jem Garcia won their board assignments in the men’s division and so did Mhage Sebastian, Ruelle Canino, Jan Jodilyn Fronda and Shania Mae Mendoza in the women’s section to for an early piece of the lead in this 11-round tournament.

The Filipinos were taking on seventh seed Azerbaijan, while the Filipinas were battling the Syrians in the second round last night.