PH chessers score rare double
The Philippine scored a rare double late Wednesday when the men’s team turned back Zambia, 2.5-1.5, while the women’s squad routed South Korea, 3-1, in the 43rd World Chess Olympiad in Batumi, Georgia Wednesday night.
International Master Jan Emmanuel Garcia provided the lone victory—a 60-move triumph over Kela Kaulule Siame of an Engish Opening—for the Filipinos as Grandmasters Julio Catalino Sadorra and John Paul Gomez and IM Haridas Pascua drew with IM Andrew Kayonde, FIDE Master Douglas Munebga and Prince Daniel Mulenga, respectively.
That sent the 54-seeded men’s team in a 14-country tie for 20th place with 12 match points after once lurking outside the top 100.
In women’s action, WGM Janelle Mae Frayna, WFM Shania Mae Mendoza and WIM Bernadette Galas all won over over WFM Wang Chengjia, WFM Roza Eynula and Kim Yubin, respectively, against a defeat by WIM Marie Antoinette San Diego to Park Sunwoo.
The women moved up to a 13-country logjam at 33rd spot with 11 points and was battling Moldova at press time.
