Filipinos buck Torre defeat to down Ecuadorans

First posted 03:49am (Mla time) May 29, 2006
By Roy Luarca
Inquirer

Philippine Daily Inquirer Site:

Editor's Note: Published on page A30 of the May 29, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer


TURIN, ITALY -- The Philippines struck on the lower boards Saturday to trounce Ecuador, 3-1, and get back on track in the 37th Chess Olympiad at the Olympic Village here.

Two-time national champion Darwin Laylo and Fide Masters Oliver Dimakiling and Wesley So won their games on boards 2, 3 and 4, respectively, to compensate for the loss of Grandmaster Eugene Torre on board 1.

The Filipinas, weren’t as lucky, however, as they bowed to the Belarusians, 2.5-1.5, and tumbled anew in the distaff side.

Handling white, Army man Laylo beat International Master Daniel Mieles in 47 moves of a Colle System Opening while former De La Salle University star Dimakiling deftly handled black to down Miguel Medina in 43 moves of a Reti.

The 12-year-old So, an incoming high school freshman at St. Francis-Bacoor, finished off the Ecuadorians by trouncing IM Plinio Pazos in 60 moves of a Modern Defense.

Their second victory against three draws and a lone loss to the United Sates (2.5-1.5) gave the 35th-seeded Filipinos 14.5 points, good for a share of 30th-39th places in the men’s division now led by Armenia with 18.

Top favorite Russia fell to third with 17 points after absorbing a 2.5-1.5 beating from the Netherlands in round 6.

“Another win and we’ll be in a good position,” said men’s skipper Sammy Estimo.

That won’t be easy, though, as the Filipinos are slated to face the all-GM Icelanders, ranked 27th, in round 7 on Sunday.

Estimo will be fielding GM Mark Paragua on board 1, GM Rogelio Antonio Jr. on board 2, Laylo on board 3 and Dimakiling on board 4.

Torre, who yielded to GM Carlos Franco Matamoros in 36 moves of an English Opening, will take a rest along with So, who has two wins and two draws thus far.

The 22-year-old Paragua said he’d try to exact revenge against his opponent, GM Hannes Hlifar Stefansson, who bested him in their lone meeting when he was about 10 years old.

Antonio will handle black against highly rated GM Johann Hjartasson (ELO 2619) while Laylo meets GM Henrik Danielsen. Dimakiling, who totes three points on three wins and one loss like Laylo, battles GM Throstur Thorhallson.

Against 50th-ranked Finland, women’s team captain Cesar Caturla will be fielding WIM Sheerie Joy Lomibao, WNM Catherine Perena and WNM Sherily Cua in that order.

Lomibao will be pitted against WIM Nina Sammalvuo and Pereña against WIM Tanja Rantanen.

Pereña, a senior Sports Science student of the University of the Philippines, yielded to Nadezhda Aravora while WIM Beverly Mendoza bowed to WIM Tatiana Berlina as the Filipinas dropped to a share of 50th-59th places.

Cua saved the Filipinas from a shutout by drawing with WIM Anna Sharevich.

National Chess Federation of the Philippines president and Surigao del Sur Representative Prospero “Butch” Pichay is expected to arrive at the Olympic Village Sunday afternoon to boost the morale of the Philippine teams.

Congratulations!

Yeah, WELL DONE. What the chances of them going all the way?