THE Philippines pulled a pair of 3.5.5 victories over Yemen in the men’s section and Angola in the women’s side to get back into the thick of things after six rounds of the 46th World Chess Olympiad at the Silk Road International Exhibition Centre in Samarkand, Uzbekistan Monday night.
International Masters Pau Bersamina and Jem Garcia and Grandmaster Darwin Laylo delivered the decisive wins on boards one, three and four, respectively, while GM Daniel Quizon split the point with IM Al Zendani Zendan on board two as the Filipinos climbed to a 33-nation jam at 29th spot with eight match points each.
Mhage Sebastian, WGM Janelle Mae Frayna and Woman FIDE Master Shania Mae Mendoza produced the wins for the Filipinas on boards one, two and four while WIM Ruelle Canino halved the point with WIM Caxita Esperanca on board three that catapulted them to a 30-country tie for 28th also with eight points.
The lopsided wins more than made up for the fifth-round defeats the Filipinos suffered at the hands of Uzbekistan 2 and the Filipinas to the Spaniards the day before.
The 11-round tournament took a much-needed breather giving everyone, including the Philippines, time to recharge and brace for the decisive last five rounds of this biennial tournament considered as the Olympics of chess.
The Filipinos battle the Argentines while the Filipinas tackle Kyrgyzstan in the seventh round on Wednesday.
