Phil. Team Aims for Better Finish in Chess Olympiad
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 04 Aug 2012
Eugene Torre.
MANILA (PNA) -- Improving on their finishes two years ago will be the target of the men?s and women?s teams when they plunge into action in the XLth Chess Olympiad scheduled August 27 to September 10 at the Istanbul Expo Center in the Turkish Capital.
?We?ll be aiming for a to 20 finish, but if given a chance try to be in the top 10 again, we?ll grab it? Eugene Torre, the country?s and Asia?s first Grandmaster said during Friday?s SCOOP Sa Kamayan weekly session at the Kamayan Restaurant-Padre Faura.
?Reachable yung top 20,? the now 60-year-old Torre, owner of a World Chess Olympiad 19 straight appearance who will be playing in another unprecedented 21st stint in the biennial conclave, assured during the forum, sponsored by Powerade, AKTV and FILA. ?But if we will look into the experience of our line up based on the player?s ELO rating, the chances of landing in the top 10 will not be that totally impossible.?
The Philippines ended up 50th during the 39th edition of the Olympiad held in Khanty Mansiysk, Russia in 2010.
Board One in the men?s team will be manned by Filipino youngest GM Wesley So, only 18 who has an ELO rating 2650, Board Two by Oliver Barbosa (2554), Board Three by Torre (2416) and Board Four by Mark Paragua (2508), the reigning National Open champion who had just topped the recent ?Battler of Grandmaster.?
Alkernate is GM-to-be and International Master Oliver Dimakiling (2428). National Chess Federation of the Philippines executive director Jayson Gonzales, who will be coaching both the men?s and the men?s sides, also said that the Filipina woodpushers are, likewise, capable of a higher finish than the 44th they wound up two years ago.
?Like the men?s team, our women?s squad, which is a combination of veteran and new players has the capability to finish better that the last time around,? Gonzales, who accompanied Torre, men?s team members So, Paragua and Dimakiling ang women?s team members, Women?s International Master Catherine Perena, Women?s National Master JN Jodilyn Fronda and Women Fide Master Rulp Ulen Jose, predicted.
Other members of the women?s side are WNM Janelle Mae Frayna and WNM Jedara Docena.
The Filipino chessers are currently ranked 31st in the world on the strength of their strong showing in the international field under the leadership of NCFP president and former Congressman Prospero ?Butch? Pichay,. The most recent of which are the twin triumphs of So in the Montreal Open and Toronto Open.
The Filipinas, on the other hand are ranked 52nd in the World.
A send-off ceremony will be held in honor of the men?s and women?s team on Tuesday to be hosted by businessman-sportsman Daniel Francisco in an unnamed Quezon City restaurant.
The highest finish the Philippines has so far fashioned out was seventh during he 70s. Torre also powered another PH squad to an 11th place finish in 1974 in Nice, France where he obtained third GM norm.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
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