All GM Pinoy vs fifth-seeded Poland
By Marlon Bernardino
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 05 Aug 2022
MANILA---The Philippines seeks to slay a mighty fifth-seeded Poland in their seventh-round showdown that could make or break their bid in the 44th World Chess Olympiad in Chennai, India.
The Filipinos will field an all-Grandmaster line up of Mark Paragua, Banjo Barcenilla and John Paul Gomez with hopes of matching the dreaded foursome of Jan Krzysztof Duda, Kacper Piorun, Wjciech Moranda and Mateusz Bartel, whose average rating of 2654 was way above the former’s norm of 2451.
But the country has shown it can defy overwhelming odds after shocking fancied Sweden, 2.5-1.5, and holding heavily favored Israel to a 2-2 standoff in the last two rounds.
“Nothing is impossible, we will just fight until the end,” said Laylo, an Army man from Dasmarinas, Cavite.
The Filipinos are currently in an 11-nation tie at 14th spot with nine match points and could reclaim its place in the top 10 if it could pull off a miraculous feat against the Poles.
The Filipinas, for their part, have reinserted WGM Janelle Mae Frayna into the line up in Woman FIDE Master Shania Mae Mendoza’s place with an aspiration of blowing some life back into their campaign.
The county slipped to a 13-country tie for 48th spot with seven points after being held to a 2-2 truce by lower-ranked Bolivia in the sixth round Wednesday.
Also playing are WIMs Jan Jodilyn Fronda, Marie Antoinette San Diego and Kylen Joy Mordido on the last three boards.-Marlon Bernardino-
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