The Philippines blanked their respective men’s and women’s rivals Friday night to jumpstart its 44th World Chess Olympiad campaign in Chennai, India.
The PH men’s squad toppled Oman while the women’s crew crushed Guam in similar 4-0 scores to make their presence felt in this prestigious tournament.
Grandmasters Mark Paragua, John Paul Gomez and Darwin Laylo and International Master Paulo Bersamina delivered the wins in the men’s side while WIM Jan Jodilyn Fronda, Woman FIDE Master Shania Mendoza, WIM Marie Antoinette San Diego and WIM Kylen Joy Mordido provided the triumphs in the women’s.
While the GM Jayson Gonzales-mentored women’s squad had it easy, there were some anxious moments in the GM Eugene Torre-coached men’s side particularly in the game of Paragua, who fought his way back outlasting an upset-conscious FM Amer Al Maashani.
The men’s crew is currently in the 92-country logjam at first place including 76 nations that posted 4-0 shutout victories.
They play sixth pick Azerbaijan, an all-GM team that is expected to field in World No. 10 Shakhriyar Mamedyarov after resting him in its 4-0 blanking of Algeria, in the second round at press time.
The women’s crew, on the other hand, shared the lead with 78 others including 69 other nations who also scored a 4-0 triumph.
They battle No. 78 Nicaragua, which smashed Somalia, 4-0.