Olympiad: PH rips South Africa, shares 7th

TEAM Philippines struck hard on both fronts in the fifth round Tuesday, sustaining its strong showing in the 42nd Chess Olympiad in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Legendary Grandmaster Eugene Torre sparkled anew as the Filipinos downed the South Africans, 3.5-0.5, and barged into the upper ladder in the Open division.

Their women compatriots on the other hand dumped the Algerians, 4-0, in the distaff side.

Still razor-sharp at 64, Torre trounced International Master Watu Kobese on board three, complementing the efforts of United States-based GMs Julio Catalino Sadorra and Rogelio Barcenilla Jr., who bested GM Kenny Solomon and IM Donovan Van den Heever on boards one and four.

GM John Paul Gomez drew with IM Daniel Cawdery on board two to complete the Filipinos’ fourth win against a loss that gave them 8.0 match points, good for a share of seventh to 25th places among 180 teams.

Woman International Master Janelle Mae Frayna, in hot pursuit of the WGM title, presided over the team’s romp when she subdued WIM Sabrina Latreche on board one.

WIMs Jan Jodilyn Fronda, Catherine Secopito and Shania Mae Mandoza also prevailed over WIMs Amina Mezioud, Amira Hamza and Hayat Toubal, respectively, as the Filipinos rose to 7.0 points and shared 17th to 30th places among 140 teams.

The Olympiad took a break Wednesday and will resume with Round 6 Thursday. The men’s team will battle Norway while the women’s squad will tangle with Mexico. Roy Luarca