PHL bounces back, tops Iceland

GRANDMASTERS Oliver Barbosa and Mark Paragua struck with the white pieces to lift the Philippines past Iceland, 3-1, in the 40^th World Chess Olympiad Saturday night at the WOW Convention Center in Istanbul, Turkey.

Barbosa was quality-up when GM Henrik Danielsen resigned after 35 moves of Bogo-Indian while Paragua outmaneuvered International Master Dagur Arngrimmson in their rook and pawn endgame to complete the country’s fourth win in five rounds.

GMs Wesley So and Eugene Torre drew with GMs Hannes Stefansson and Throstur Thorhallsson on boards 1 and 3, respectively.

In the distaff side, Woman International Master Catherine Perena and Woman National Master Jedara Docena stunned their more accomplished foes using the black pieces to secure the country’s 3-1 romp over South Africa.

Perena downed Woman Grandmaster Melissa Greef of South Africa on board 1 while Docena toppled WIM Denise Frick on board 3.

WNM Janelle Mae Frayna settled for a draw against WIM Cecile Van Der Merwe on board 2 while WNM Jan Jodilyn Fronda halved the point with Woman FIDE Master Tshepang Tlale on board 4.

It was third consecutive match win by the women’s team and fourth in five rounds overall. Noli Cruz

PHL suffers first loss in World Chess Olympiad

GRANDMASTER Gabriel Sargissian stopped cold the winning run of International Master Oliver Dimakiling as third seed Armenia held off the Philippines, 2.5-1.5 in the fourth round of the 40^th World Chess Olympiad Friday night at the WOW Convention Center in Istanbul, Turkey.

It was the first loss of Dimakiling after winning his first three matches. Grandmasters Wesley So, Oliver Barbosa and Mark Paragua drew their respective matches against fancied opponents to minimize the damage.

So halved the point with GM Aronian Levon, the highest ranked player in the field with 2816 Elo rating; Barbosa survived the attack of GM Sergei Movsesian; and Paragua settled for a fighting draw against GM Vladimir Akopian.

Meanwhile, the women’s team toppled Mexico, 3-1, behind Woman International Master Catherine Perena and Woman National Masters Janelle Mae Frayna and Jan Jodilyn Fronda.

Perena downed Woman FIDE Master Diana Carime real Pereyra; Frayna rolled to her fourth win in as many matches at the expense of WIM Lorena Alejan Mendoza Velazquez; and Fronda subdued Janet Sarai Vazquez Flores.

WFM Rulp Ylem Jose failed to complete a shut-out after bowing to Ivette Ale Garcia Morales on board 2. Noli Cruz

PHL men's team rolls to 3rd straight win in World Chess Olympiad

THE Philippine men’s team kept their winning streak alive with a 4-0 sweep of Kazakhstan in the third round of the 40^th FIDE World Chess Olympiad late Thursday at the WOW Convention Center in Istanbul, Turkey.

Grandmaster Mark Paragua, playing with the black pieces on board 3, sacrificed a knight to ignite a swift and fatal attack that caught GM Petr Kostenko off-guard.

The match ended after 28 moves of Caro-Kann Defense.

GM Oliver Barbosa, manning board 2 with aplomb, proved his mastery of complicated game, taking the scalp of GM Anuar Ismagambetov after 61 moves of Queens Indian Defense.

International Master Oliver Dimakiling also made a brilliant sacrifice in the middle game to beat fellow IM Kiril Kuderinov after 38 moves of Reti Opening on board 4.

GM Wesley So, playing on Board 1, crushed GM Rinat Jumabayev after 63 moves of Gruenfeld Defense in their rook and pawn end game to complete the shut-out.

The men’s team earlier downed Libya, 4-0, and Moldova, 2.5-1.5.

In the distaff side, Woman International Master Catherine Perena celebrated her birthday with a win over Woman FIDE Master Bahar Hallaeva after 37 moves of Nimzo Indian Defense on board 1 as the Philippine women’s team dealt Turkmenistan a 3-1 beating.

Woman National Master Janelle Mae Frayna remained undefeated in three games after defeating Aknur Isaeva in 39 moves of King’s Indian Defense on board 2 while WNM Jan Jodilyn Fronda (2022) waylaid Ogulgerek Atabaeva 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 after 56 moves of closed Sicilian Defense on Board 3. Noli Cruz