Mendoza shines for PH women; Quizon keeps eye on GM norm

BUDAPEST—Shania Mae Mendoza was put on board one to allow her higher-ranked teammates to earn points at the lower boards of the 45th Fide (International Chess Federation) Chess Olympiad.

She’s turning the pressure-packed opportunity into her own point-collecting venture.

“She’s been doing great,” said an impressed women’s coach Grandmaster (GM) Jayson Gonzales.

Might be an understatement.

The Woman Fide Master from Sta. Rosa, Laguna, so far has 2.5 points here after two wins and an impressive draw.

Mendoza picked apart Natalie Fuad Kamel Jamaliah’s Sicilian Defense in 41 moves at BOK Sports Hall here on Friday to highlight the Philippines’ 4-0 rout of Jordan in the women’s division of the Olympiad.

That win came a day after the 26-year-old Mendoza averted a Filipino shutout loss to the United States after holding International Master (IM) Gulrukhbegim Tokhirjonova to a draw.

Her win at the top board allowed top Filipino women bets, Jannele Mae Frayna and Jan Jodilyn Fronda to continue collecting wins from the lower boards. Frayna, Fronda and Bernadette Galas also came through for the Philippines in the lower boards, allowing the Philippines to return into the top 30 of the standings.

Meanwhile, International Master Daniel Quizon, who rested in the third round, is expected to suit up on board two when the country battles Monaco on Saturday.

Quizon will continue his chase of that two rating points he needs to become a full pledge GM.

To date, the 20-year-old Quizon has a 2498 rating, just a couple of rungs from breaching the 2500 GM plateau.

The men’s team had scored a rebound on Friday after getting crushed by Germany the day before.

The Filipino men crushed Madagascar, 3.5-.5, on victories by IM Pau Bersamina, GM John Paul Gomez and IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia on boards two to four and a draw by GM Julio Catalino Sadorra on top board.

Still dazed and jetlagged from the long flight from the United States, Sadorra, who turned 37 yesterday, played his first game and ran into trouble when he went two pawns down.

But he created opportunities that resulted in a draw in 30 moves of the Catalan.

“I didn’t want to force it, I think a draw was enough for the team,” said Sadorra.