PH men's chess team beats Cyprus; women's squad topples Angola in Chennai, Olympiad
By Marlon Bernardino
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 02 Aug 2022
MANILA---The Philippines dismantled Monaco and Angola via identical scores of 3.5-0.5 in the men’s and women’s division, respectively, barge into the top 20 after four rounds of the 44th World Chess Olympiad in Chennai, India Monday night.
GM Rogelio "Banjo" Barcenilla Jr. fought his way out of an inferior position in squeezing out a marathon 80-move draw of a King’s Indian Attack with Ukranian-born Woman Grandmaster Tatiana Dornbusch on top board that capped the rout.
GMs John Paul Gomez and Darwin Laylo and International Master Paulo Bersamina waylaid their respective foes on boards two to four with relative ease that powered the Filipinos into a 23-nation tie at 18th place with six match points apiece.
The Filipinas were equally impressive following wins by WGM Janelle Mae Frayna, and WIMs Jan Jodilyn Fronda and Marie Antoinette San Diego on the top three boards and a draw by WIM Kylen Joy Mordido with Renelsa Taiane Antonio on the last board.
It propelled the GM Jayson Gonzales-mentored women’s squad, which is being bankrolled by the Philippine Sports Commission, to a 34-country logjam at 12th spot with six points each.
The country will have a chance to gatecrash into the top 10 if it could pull the rug from under the higher-ranked Sweden in the men's and the Netherlands in the women's in the fifth round at press time.
The men’s team, mentored by GM Eugene Torre, is expected to field in Gomez, Laylo and Bersamina anew in the last three boards and either between Barcenilla and GM Mark Paragua on board one.
Gomez and Laylo have been specifically playing well with the former scoring three points with two wins and three draws and the latter winning all his first three outings.
The women’s side has been drawing consistent efforts from Frayna, who has 2.5 points out in three matches, and Fronda, who has scored three points on two wins and a couple of truces.-Marlon Bernardino-
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Marlon Bernardino.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
OLD HABITS NEVER DIE
By Ed de la Vega, DDS, Tue, 22 Jul 2025Pacquiao Sends US Boxing Scene Buzzing Again
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Tue, 22 Jul 2025Hurting inside
By Joaquin Henson, Tue, 22 Jul 2025Shocking Incident at MaxFight 62: Fighter Bites Opponent’s Ear in Live MMA Broadcast, Prompting National Outrage and Scrutiny of Bulgarian MMA Federation
Tue, 22 Jul 2025Immanuwel Aleem Takes on Demond NIcholson in DMV Turf War on Saturday. July 26th at The Hall in Live! Casino and Hotel Maryland
Mon, 21 Jul 2025Barrios lucky to keep title
By Joaquin Henson, Mon, 21 Jul 2025Allan Cantonjos rules Dipolog FIDE Standard chess tilt
By Marlon Bernardino, Mon, 21 Jul 2025PHI GenTri Chess Players to Wave Philippine Flag in Hong Kong
By Marlon Bernardino, Mon, 21 Jul 2025Filipino Pride and the Art of Hero Worship
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Mon, 21 Jul 2025Manny Pacquiao vs. Logic
By Mark F. Villanueva, Sun, 20 Jul 2025McTavish a proud Filipino
By Joaquin Henson, Sun, 20 Jul 2025GM Antonio rules Taiwan blitz chess tilt
By Marlon Bernardino, Sun, 20 Jul 2025History Slips From Pacquiao's Hands as Barrios Fight Ends in Majority Draw
By Dong Secuya, Sun, 20 Jul 2025Fundora Dominates Tszyu: "Towering Inferno" Retains Title in Strategic Masterclass
By Dong Secuya, Sun, 20 Jul 2025PITBULL CRUZ DOMINATES OMAR SALCEDO TO WIN WBC 140 LB INTERIM TITLE
By Dong Secuya, Sun, 20 Jul 2025