PH shocks Moldova

ISTANBUL, Turkey—In-form International Master Oliver Dimakiling struck on board four Wednesday as the Philippine men’s team stunned Moldova, 2.5-1.5, in the second round and kept its share of the lead in the Open section of the 40th Chess Olympiad here.

Despite handling black, Dimakiling (Elo 2428) downed IM Julian Baltag (2396) after 37 moves of a Catalan as the Filipinos posted their second straight win and raised their total to 4.0 match points. They dumped Libyan, 4-0, in Tuesday’s opener at Istanbul Expo Center.

Grandmaster Wesley So (Elo 2652) drew with Super GM Viktor Bologan (2734) after 74 moves of a Sicilian-Paulsen variation on board one and so did GM Oliver Barbosa (2554) in 53 moves of a Caro Kahn-Advanced variation against GM Dmitry Svetushkin on board two.

GM Mark Paragua (2508) also halved the point with IM Serghei Vedmedilic (2468) after 73 moves of a Modern defense on board three as the Filipinos made the 16th-ranked Moldovans pay for not using regular board two player GM Viorel Iordachescu (2645).

The Filipinos, ranked 35th among a record 158 Open teams, hope to sustain their drive for a top 20 finish when they tangle with the Kazakhs, rated No. 40, in Thursday’s third round.

While the Filipinos kept abreast with 32 other perfect scorers, including the defending champion Ukrainians and the top-seeded Russians, their female counterparts fell short against the powerful Slovenians, seeded 16th.

Teen star Janelle Mae Frayna shocked WGM Ghazala Shabbir Khuaja on board three, weaving an inevitable mate in one after 29 moves of an Alekhine-Larsen variation.

Jedara Docena, however, failed to exploit a pawn advantage and settled for a draw on board four.

Woman Fide Master Rulp Ylem Jose (2061) was also a pawn up against WIM Vesna Rozik (2260), but blundered and lost on board two.

As expected, GM Anna Muzychuk (Elo 2606) proved too tough for WIM Catherine Perena (2091) in their top board tussle and foiled the Filipinos’ bid to follow up on their 4-0 demolition of the Pakistanis Wednesday.

The Philippines, seeded 57th, will try to bounce back against a lower-ranked rival in Turkmenistan Thursday.

National Chess Federation of the Philippines executive director GM Jayson Gonzales said he will field the same lineup against Kazakhstan, which suffered a 1.5-2.5 setback to Denmark.

The 18-year-old So, who kept his unblemished record against elite rivals with ratings of 2700 and above, tackles GM Rinat Jumabayev (2525). Thus far, So has battled 33 Super GMs, besting five and drawing the rest.

The reedy Barbosa, winner of two tough tournaments in India early this year, tangles with GM Anuar Ismagambetov (2471) while Paragua battles GM Petr Kostenko (2494). Dimakiling, former spearhead of multi-titled La Salle in the UAAP, will gun for his third straight win against IM Kiril Kuderinov (2484).

“Let’s sustain our momentum,” said Gonzales, who again rested GM Eugene Torre, still mourning his mother’s death on Saturday.

Other featured second round matches saw Ukraine trounce Qatar, 3-1; Russia down Greece, 3-1; the United States rip Lithuania, 3.5-0.5; China clobber Italy, 3.5-0.5; and England hurdle Brazil, 2.5-1.5.