Rom, Bernardo join Severino at joint 10th in world para chess tilt

Three Filipinos joined at the crowded 10th place after five rounds in the World Chess Championships for People with Disabilities held online Tuesday.

Jasper Rom and Darry Bernardo toppled their respective rivals to catch up with FIDE Master Sander Severino to improve to 4 points in this nine-round tournament participated by 250 players.

Rom bounced back from a fourth-round loss and routed Cuba’s Mario Pallerols Duran in 43 moves of a Queen’s Gambit duel to post with four victories against a single defeat.

Bernardo, for his part, outplayed Spaniard Jerome Esteban in a 50-move game of a King’s Indian Attack to also tote four wins and a loss.

Severino, the highest rated player in the PH team, absorbed his second straight draw against three wins at the expense of Russian Danilchenko Dmitrij in 75 moves of a Queen’s Pawn game.

Meanwhile, Henry Lopez split the point with India’s Kumar Pradhan Soundarya in 35 moves of a Benonio for a share of 33rd place with 3.5 points, while Rodolfo Sarmiento prevailed over Turkey’s Erhan Ilgin for 3 points at joint 61st.