GRANDMASTERS John Paul Gomez and Rogelio Barcenilla took over the cudgels from GM Eugene Torre in the fourth round Monday night as the Philippines clobbered Costa Rica, 3.5-0.5, in the Open division of the Chess Olympiad in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Gomez and Barcenilla posted their second straight wins at the expense of International Masters Pineda Minero and Romero Valdes on boards one and three while IM Paulo Bersamina outwitted IM Tsij Murrillo on board four.
Torre, winner of his first three matches, settled for a draw with GM Aco Gonzales.
With its third win against a loss, the Philippines, ranked 53rd among 180 teams, improved to 6.0 match points, good for a share of 14th to 48th places in the Open division being paced by defending champion China, Azerbaijan I, Netherlands, India, Belarus and Ukraine with perfect 8.0 points.
The women’s team drew the full point from Woman Fide Master Shania Mae Mendoza to salvage a 2-2 draw with Canada.
The 18-year-old Mendoza beat Woman Candidate Master Maili-Jade Quellet on board four to compensate for the loss of WIM Jan Jodilyn Fronda to WIM Yuan Yuanling on board two.
WIM Janelle Mae Frayna continued to hold fort on board one, drawing with FM Zhou Qiyu.
WIM Catherine Secopito also split the point with Lali Agbabishvili as the team posted 5.0 points in the division being led by 8.0 pointers Ukraine, Serbia, Russia and Kazakhstan. Roy Luarca