Philippine chessers bow to rivals

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines succumbed to 19th seed Spain, 1-3, in the women’s division and host Uzbekistan 2, 1.5-2.5, in the men’s side as it failed to barge into the top 10 after five rounds of the 46th World Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan Sunday night.

Woman International Master Jan Jodilyn Fronda-Grafil was the lone shining light for the Filipinas as she stunned IM Ann Matnadze on board three to avert a shutout after Woman Grandmaster Janelle Mae Frayna, WIM Ruelle Canino and Woman FIDE Master Shania Mae Mendoza all suffered crushing defeats on boards one, two and four.

Fronda-Grafil remained the highest scorer for the team with 4.5 points out of the possible five and, if she can sustain it, she will get an opportunity to contend for an individual medal at board four.

The Filipinos had the chance to escape with a 2-2 draw after IM Pau Bersamina, GM Daniel Quizon and IM Jem Garcia drew on boards two to four and IM Michael Concio Jr. looked headed into a split versus GM Abdimalik Abdisalimov on top board.

But Concio blundered away his chances in a rook versus bishop-and-knight endgame and fell in 73 moves in their English encounter.

The stinging defeats sent the men’s squad into a tie for 46th and the women’s side into a logjam at 36th, both with six match points each.