MANILA, Philippines – After getting a much needed rest, the Philippine men’s and women’s teams will resume its campaign in the 40th FIDE World Chess Olympiad when they battle dangerous opponents in the 11th and final round Sunday at the WOW Convention Center in Istanbul, Turkey.
The men’s team drew its last matches against Vietnam, 2-2, to vault into a share of 9th to 15th place in the open section before the tournament took a break Saturday.
The women’s team, on the other hand, also settled a 2-2 stand-off against Malaysia, good for a share of 39th to 57th place.
“We’ll be aiming for a better finish, both men's and women's," said National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) Chairman Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr.
The 35th-seeded Filipinos so far have 14 points, while the 57th-seed Filipinas have 11 points.
Against Vietnam, Grandmasters Wesley So, Oliver Barbosa, Eugene Torre and Mark Paragua drew with GMs Le Quam Liem, and Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son, International Masters Nguyen Van Huy and Nguyen Doc Hoa.
In the case of Pinay woodpushers, WIM Catherine Perena and WNM Janelle Mae Frayna split the point with Nur Najiha and Nur Nabila Hisham on board 1 and 2, repectively. WFM Jedara Docena was succumbed to Tan Li Ting on board 3 while WNM Jan Jodilyn Fronda nipped Camilia Johari on board 4.
The Philippines ended up 50th during the 2010 Olympiad in Russia, while the women's team wind up 44th place. -- by Marlon Bernardino