The Philippines turned back the Czech Republic, 2.5-1.5, to remain unbeaten after two rounds in the 1st FIDE Chess Olympiad for People with Disabilities in Belgrade, Serbia Tuesday, Jan. 31.

FIDE Master Sander Severino delivered the most crucial blow as he downed Milan Orsag on board one while Henry Lopez, Darry Bernardo and Cheyzer Mendoza drew their games in the lower board that sealed the victory.
It came a day after an emphatic 3.5-0.5 thrashing of Uzbekistan with Severino, Lopez and Bernardo delivering the triumphs on the top three boards and Mendoza holding her won with a standoff on the last board.
With two wins for four match points, the James Infiesto-mentored Filipinos, whose campaign is being bankrolled by the Philippine Sports Commission, have zoomed to the top with a perfect four points along with powerhouses India, Israel, Poland, Serbia 2 and a FIDE team composed mostly of players from different nations.
The PH crew hoped to sustain its explosive start as it was battling a Serbia 2 squad composed of Mile Bjelanovic, Stefan Mitrovic, Luka Bulatovic and Vladan Petovic at press time.
The team, regardless of the result, had already made history by being one of the 26 countries that saw action in the first ever face-to-face Olympiad for the differently abled wood pushers.
All 26 squads were selected based on their average rankings.