PHL WOODPUSHERS KEEP STREAK, BLANKS KAZAKHSTAN IN CHESS OLYMPIAD; BIRTHDAY GIRL PERENA LIFTS WOMEN'S TEAM INTO VICTORY
By Marlon Bernardino
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 31 Aug 2012
THE No.35 Philippines is still on a winning streak with another victory over No. 40 Kazakhstan, 4-0, in the 3rd round of the 40th FIDE World Chess Olympiad late Thursday at the WOW Convention Center in Istanbul, Turkey.
GM Mark Paragua (2508) sacrificed his knight in the a-file and launched a powerful attack to beat GM Petr Kostenko (2494) after 28 moves of Caro-Kann defense on Board Three.
Then GM Oliver Barbosa (2554) played a true warrior in a complicated game to topple GM Anuar Ismagambetov (2471) after 61 moves of Queens Indian defense on Board Two.
GM candidate Oliver Dimakiling (ELO 2428), the first person in the winning position, drubbed IM Kiril Kuderinov (2484) after 38 moves of Reti Opening on Board Four.
GM Wesley So (2652), the last Filipino playing in the group, crushed GM Rinat Jumabayev (2525) after 63 moves of Gruenfeld defense in their rook and pawn end game to complete a shut-out victory for the Pinoy pawnpushers.
The Philippines men's team blasted No.112 Libya, 4-0, in the Tuesday's first round then edged No.23 Moldova, 2.5-1.5, in the Wednesday's second round.
The Philippines men's team will next face No.3 Armenia, who downed No.18 Spain, 2.1-1.5.
GM Levon Aronian (2816), boyfriend of Fil-Australian Woman International Master Arianne Bo Caoili defeated GM Francisco Pons Vallejo (2697) on board One to scored lone point of Armenia.
GM Sergie Movsesian (2698), GM Gabriel Sargissian (2693) and GM Tigran L. Petrosian (2661) drew with Spain's GM Ivan Salgado Lopez (2638), GM Miguel Illescas Cordova (2601) and GM Oleg Korneev (2581), on Board Two to Four, in order.
National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) Chairman/President Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr. is very confident that the Filipino woodpushers will give a good fight again in another battle against a former Russian Republic squad.
"Inaasahan ko na magiging madugo ang bakbakan ng men's team natin sa No.3 seed Armenia," said Pichay, who was watching the game thru live internet feed.
"Saka maganda y'ung format na match point kasi may silatan. Y'un ang nangyari against our men's team kontra sa Kazakshtan. Panalo na si (Oliver) Dimakiling sa board 4 pero ayaw mag resign ng kalaban nya. Then biglang nanalo si (Mark) Paragua. It means 2-0 na yun, kaya na pressure yung dalawang kalaban nina (Oliver) Barbosa at (Wesley) So ay 'yun naka 4-0 tayo," referring Pichay to the match points format being applied here in Olympiad.
The Philippines men's team has tallied six match points and shared 1st to 13th places in the company of Armenia, No.1 Russia, USA, India, China, Azerbaijan, Germany, France, England, Ukraine, Poland and Hungrary.
Men's team also ahd a 10.5 points in game points.
In the distaff side, Birthday girl WIM Catherine Perena (2091) defeated WFM Bahar Hallaeva (2174) after 37 moves of Nimzo Indian defense on Board 1 as the No.57 seed Philippines women's team dealt No.58 Turkmenistan, 3-1.
WNM Janelle Mae Frayna (1991) nipped Aknur Isaeva (2011) after 39 moves of King's Indian defense on Board 2 while WNM Jan Jodilyn Fronda (2022) waylaid Ogulgerek Atabaeva (1917) after 50 moves of Sicilian defense on Board 4.
WNM Jedara Docena (2061) failed to convert her winning game and bowed to WFM Gozel Atabaeva (2076) after 56 moves of closed Sicilian defense on Board 3.
The women's team subdued No.121 Pakistan, 4-0, in the first round but was yielded to No.16 seed Slovenia squad, 1.5-2.5, in the second round.
The women?s team accumulated 4 match points and shared 23rd placers.
The women's team will next face No.60 Mexico, who brought beat No.75 IPCA, 3-1.
Women's team had 8.5 points in game points.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Marlon Bernardino.
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