Pinoy chess squad eyes better finish in Olympiad

The Philippine men’s and women’s teams are looking to improve on their previous performances when the 39th Chess Olympiad opens Monday (Tuesday in Manila) in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia.

Powered by teen sensation GM Wesley So and veteran GM Eugene Torre, the Filipinos are deemed capable of rising from their disappointing 46th-place finish in the 2008 edition in Dresden, Germany.

The 16-year-old So, the country’s highest-rated player with an Elo of 2668, will man the top board, followed by GM 

John Paul Gomez (Elo 2527) on board two, GM Darwin Laylo (Elo  2522) on board three and the 58-year-old Torre (Elo 2489) on board four.

International Master Richard Bitoon (Elo 2477), who replaced GM Rogelio Antonio Jr., will be the reserve player.

Also on a mission to better their 43rd-place effort in Dresden are Cheradee Chardine Camacho, Catherine Perena, Shercila Cua, Rulp Ylem Jose and Jedara Docena.

“I like our chances in this Olympiad,” said National Chess Federation of the Philippines president Prospero Pichay. 

“This team is stronger than the one we sent to Dresden.”

First-round pairings have yet to be announced, although the 38th-seeded Filipinos are expected to meet one of the lower-rated countries in the 158-nation event.

Antonio, the country’s second highest-rated player with an Elo of 2577, was dropped from the roster following differences with the NCFP.

Antonio has since reconciled with NCFP officials and even attended a luncheon tendered by Pichay for the teams on Saturday.

Russian president Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin will grace the tournament’s opening ceremony.

Pichay and secretary general and Tagaytay Mayor Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino will fly to Khanty-Mansiysk next week to provide morale support to the players and to attend the 81st Fide (World Chess Federation) Congress.