THE Philippines ran into tougher foes and fell to host Uzbekistan 2 and Spain that derailed its bid of gatecrashing into the top 10 after the fifth round of the 46th World Chess Olympiad at the Silk Road International Exhibition Centre in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
The Filipinos succumbed to the Uzbeks’ second squad, 1.5-2.5, after International Master (IM) Michael Concio misplayed a drawn endgame and lost to GM Abdimalik Abdisalimov in 73 moves of their English duel on top board.
IM Pau Bersamina, GM Daniel Quizon and IM Jem Garcia all drew their matches on the lower boards before that heartbreaking Concio defeat for the Nationals, whose campaign is being bankrolled by the Philippine Sports Commission and backed by delegation head and Misamis Occidental Gov. Henry Oaminal, Sr.
The Filipinas, for their part, were waylaid by the 19th-seeded Spaniards, 1-3, with WIM Jan Jodilyn Fronda-Grafil coming through with the team’s lone triumph at the expense of a higher-rated IM Ann Matnadze on board three after WGM Janelle Mae Frayna, WIM Ruelle Canino and Woman FIDE Master Shania Mae Mendoza fell like dominoes on boards one, two and four, respectively.
The stinging defeats sent the men’s squad into a 49-nation tie for 46th and the women’s squad into a logjam at 36th, both with six match points each.
They should look to bounce back quickly as they were tackling Yemen in the men’s section and Angola in the women’s side in the sixth round at press time.
