FILIPINO PAWNPUSHERS EYE TOP 20 FINISH IN WORLD CHESS OLYMPIAD
By Marlon Bernardino
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 10 Aug 2012
MANILA, Philippines---IMPROVING on their finishes two years ago will be the target of the men?s and women?s teams when they seeing into action in the 40th World Chess Olympiad scheduled August 27 to September 10 at the Istanbul Expo Center in the Turkish Capital.
This was bared by former Olympian and Head Coach Grandmaster (GM) Jayson Gonzales during the send off party for the Philippine team on Sunday (August 5, 2012) at the Ma Mon Luk Restaurant in Quezon Avenue branch, Quezon City hosted by sportsman Daniel "Daddy Boy" Francisco of Bangkal, Makati.
?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? said Asia's First Grandmaster Eugene Torre, referring his 21st Olympiad chess appearance who gets the chance to set a new record in this month?s Chess Olympiad for the most number of stints.
"We are confident that we can perform well in this biennial chess olympiad tournament," said GM Jayson Gonzales, also Executive Director of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) headed by it's Chairman/President Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr. and Secretary-General Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino Jr.
GM Gonzales, member of the Philippine Team during the 36th Chess Olympiad in Calvia, Spain in 2004 with a strong 12th place finish for the Philippine men's team.
?I like our chances in this Olympiad,? said Tagaytay City Mayor and NCFP Secretary-General Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino Jr. who openly predicted that the Filipinos will improve their 50th-place finish in the 39th World Chess Olympiad 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 2652, Board Two by Oliver Barbosa (2554), Board Three by Eugene Torre (2469) and Board Four by Mark Paragua (2508), the reigning National Open champion who had just topped the recent ?Battler of Grandmaster.? Alternate is GM candidate and International Master Oliver Dimakiling (2428).
GM 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 wind up, also two years ago.
The women?s squad is made up of veteran campaigners WIM Catherine Perena, WFM Rulp Ylem Jose, WNMs Janelle Mae Frayna, Jedara Docena and Jan Jodilyn Fronda.
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 Pichay and Tolentino. 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.
The Philippine Team Istanbul campaign backed up by the Philippine Sports Commision (PSC) headed by it's Chairman Ricardo "Richie" Garcia and the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) led by it's President Jose "Peping" Cojuangco Jr.
Photo: The 2012 World Chess Olympiad scheduled August 27 to September 10 at the Istanbul Expo Center in the Turkish Capital. From left, are NCFP Executive Director Grandmaster (GM) Jayson Gonzales, GM Mark Paragua, GM Wesley So, 10-year-old whiz kid Memory champ Jamyla Lambunao, Filipino and United States chess master Almario Marlon Bernardino Jr., sportsman Daniel "Daddy Boy" Francisco, NCFP Chairman/President Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr., Asia's First GM Eugene Torre and GM candidate-International Master (IM) Oliver Dimakiling.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Marlon Bernardino.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
PIONEERING FILIPINO BOXERS TAKE SPOTLIGHT ON FIL-AM HISTORY MONTH (PART I)
By Dong Secuya, Thu, 16 Oct 2025BOXING HALL OF FAME RELEASES FALL 2025 LETTER OF APPEAL SEEKING FUNDRAISING SUPPORT
Thu, 16 Oct 2025Mendoza bags bronze
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 16 Oct 2025THRILLA IN MANILA GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY 20: MUHAMMAD ALI VS. JOE FRAZIER III ON OCTOBER 1, 1975 AT THE ARANETA COLISEUM
By Maloney L. Samaco, Thu, 16 Oct 2025Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimán: History of Boxing in Reynosa, Tamaulipas
By Mauricio Sulaimán, Thu, 16 Oct 2025YORK HALL PRESS CONFERENCE: EVERYTHING THAT WAS SAID AS CONWAY AND LIDDARD GET SET FOR HUGE DOMESTIC CLASH
Wed, 15 Oct 2025Unbeaten Super Featherweight Contender Andres Cortes Set for Return on October 18 Against Derlyn Hernandez-Geraldo in Long Beach
Wed, 15 Oct 2025JOEL “LETHAL” LEWIS RETURNS NOV 28TH THUNDERDOME 52 – METRO CITY PERTH
Wed, 15 Oct 2025Shane Mosley Sr. Blasts Oscar De La Hoya of Blocking Son’s Title Shot, Calls for Trilogy Fight on Drew & Pris Uncensored podcast
Wed, 15 Oct 2025MASOUD vs McGRAIL HEADLINES BLOCKBUSTER MONTE-CARLO SHOWDOWN VI CARD ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6 – LIVE ON DAZN
Wed, 15 Oct 2025WFM Mendoza seizes lead in 2025 FIDE World Youth Chess Championship
By Marlon Bernardino, Wed, 15 Oct 2025YOENLI HERNANDEZ KNOCKS OUT RAMON DELACRUZ SENA IN FIRST ROUND OF MAIN EVENT OF FISTS OF FURY 8
Wed, 15 Oct 2025BEN WHITTAKER TITLE SHOT CONFIRMED WITH PRESS CONFERENCE THIS FRIDAY
Wed, 15 Oct 2025GOLDEN BOY ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP TO BOOST AMATEUR TALENT IN CHIHUAHUA, MEXICO
Wed, 15 Oct 2025SHANNON RYAN: I'M READY TO BRING 'KAOS' TO YORK HALL THIS WEEK
Wed, 15 Oct 2025