Severino, IPCA draw Scotland
A Sander Severino-led International Physically Disabled Chess Association (IPCA) battled Scotland to a 3-3 draw to stay in the hunt in the first FIDE Online Olympiad 2020 Friday night.
Tapped to play Board One for IPCA being its reigning world champion, the 34-year-old FIDE Master had a chance to lead the team to a match win but he lost what could have been a drawn game to International Master Andrew Greet after he forfeited the match due to black out back home in Silay, Negros Occidental.
"Equal yung position namin at pareho kaming may tig-five minutes, kaso nawalan samin ng kuryente. Nawalan ako ng internet," Severino said.
"Kung naitabla ko yun, panalo sana kami. Sayang."
The result pushed IPCA from the lead down to a share of second with the Scottish with five points apiece, a point behind unbeaten Portugal with six points in Pool B of Division 3.
Severino smashed IM Omar Noaman and FM Miguel Sergio as IPCA bashed United Arab Emirates and Angola on 5-1 scores in the first two rounds before his unfortunate defeat in the third round.
A win in this event accounts for two points while a draw is equivalent to a point.
The fourth and fifth rounds are scheduled Saturday night while the last three rounds on Sunday.
The top three here will advance to Division II where the Philippines, which will be spearheaded by Grandmasters Mark Paragua, Banjo Barcenilla, Darwin Laylo and Joey Antonio, are bracketed.