PH teams ready to do battle in Istanbul Chess Olympiad

READY and confident.

That’s how the Philippine men’s team, headed by Grandmasters Wesley So and Eugene Torre, described itself on the eve of the sendoff for the 40th World Chess Olympiad on Aug. 27 to Sept. 10 in Istanbul, Turkey.

“It’s a young but talented team. The experience of Torre will be a big help,” said National Chess Federation of the Philippines president Prospero “Butch” Pichay  Jr.

“I like our chances in this Olympiad,” said Tagaytay City Mayor and NCFP secretary-general Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino Jr.,  who predicted that the men’s team will better its 50th-place finish in the 2010 Chess Olympiad in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia.

So, the country’s highest-rated player with an Elo of 2652, will man the  top board, followed by GM Oliver Barbosa (Elo 2554) on board two, Torre (2460) on board three, GM Mark Paragua (2508) on board four and International Master Oliver Dimakiling (2428) on board five.

Also seeing action is the women’s squad made up of Catherine Perena,  Rulp Ylem Jose and Janelle Mae Frayna, Jedara Docena and Jan Jodilyn Fronda.

“The women’s team is also ready to do battle and improve on its 44th place finish,” said NCFP executive director GM Jayson Gonzales, who accompanied the players when they guested in Scoop sa Kamayan Friday.

Sportsman Sportsman Daniel “Daddy Boy” Francisco of Bangkal, Makati City, will host the teams’ sendoff today in a Chinese restaurant in Quezon City.