Standings after three rounds:
6.0 points—Russia, Ukraine, Armenia,Spain, Germany, Norway, England, India, Romania.
5.0—Hungary, USA, Azerbaijan, Netherlands
4.0—Philippines, China, Poland, Lithuania, Bosnia, Italy, Switzerland, Georgia, France, Greece, Bulgaria, Serbia, Ecuador, Ireland, Malta, Faroe Island, Israel, Macedonia, El Salvador, Portugal, Slovakia, Malaysia, Egypt, Denmark, Bangladesh, Mongolia, Belarus, Croatia, Vietnam, Japan, Canada, Scotland, Dominican Republic, Colombia, Germany-2, Sweden, IPCA, Brazil, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Turkey, Belarus, Tajikistan, Moldova, Iceland, Cuba, Venezuela, New Zealand, Slovenia, Costa Rica, Indonesia, Australia, Turkey, Finland.
DRESDEN, GERMANY—Grandmaster Darwin Laylo posted another smashing win and the Philippines bested Monaco, 2.5-1.5, even without Wesley So to vault into a share of 14th spot three rounds through the 38th World Chess Olympiad here.
Laylo outplayed Jean-Philippe Gentilleau in 49 moves of the Queen’s Gambit Declined after International Master John Paul Gomez had trounced Roman Krulich in 30 of the Sicilian Alapin as the Filipinos chalked up their second win after bowing to Asian powerhouse China in the first round.
Victory over Monaco was worth two points under the matchpoint system that also gives 1 point for a draw and nil for a loss. Coupled with their 2.5-1.5 win over the Algerians in the second round, the Filipinos now have 4 points.
Apart from Laylo and Gomez, Catherine Pereña, Cheradee Chardine Camacho and Christy Lamiel Bernales also hurdled their respective foes in the women’s division at the International Congress Center.
Jayson Gonzales settled for a hard-fought draw with FIDE Master Patrick van Hoolandt but compatriot Buenaventura “Bong” Villamayor, playing the top board in the Olympiad for the first time, went down in defeat to fellow GM Igor Efimov in 41 moves of the Pirc.
The 22-year-old Gomez, who rose to prominence by winning the national junior championship three times in 2000, 2001 and 2006, drew with GM Li Chao of China in the first round and Tarek Goutali of Algeria in the following round.
And Laylo, the hero in the Philippines’ victory over Algeria early Saturday, easily outclassed the lower-rated Gentilleau (ELO 2158) to become the leading scorer for the Filipinos so far with two straight wins.
The defeat was the second in three rounds for the 41-year-old Villamayor. He lost to GM Wang Yue of China in the first round and drew with GM Aimen Rizouk of Algeria in the second round.
The Philippines next faces Greece, an all-GM team led by GMs Ioannis Papaioannou and Vasilios Kotronmias.
It was also a good day for the Filipino women.
Pereña dumped Mada Eishereif in 24 moves of the Two Knights, Camacho outclassed Omaima Awad in 26 moves of the Sicilian and Bernales crushed Amali Galal in 30 moves of the Scandinavian as the Filipinos hammered out a decisive 3.5-0.5 win over No. 114 seed Yemen.
Only Shercila Cua failed to earn the full point when she was held to a draw by Nadmiea Abdalsalam in 42 moves of the Reti.
The RP women next take on Belarus.
Top seed Russia defeated Cuba, Ukraine edged Georgia, Armenia outplayed Faroe Island, Spain bested Tajikistan, India downed El Salvador, Romania humbled Japan, Norway shocked China and host Germany routed Malaysia to share the lead in the men's division with a perfect score of six points each.
Three-time champion Hungary, bannered by super GMs Peter Leko and woman GM Judit Polgar, crushed the Czech Republic to join the United States, Azerbaijan and Netherlands in a tie for 10th spot.
The US outplayed South Africa while Azerbaijan and Netherlands battled to a 2-2 draw. With a report from Ernesto A. Gonzales
