BUDAPEST—The Philippines remained on course in its bid to surpass its last edition’s finish after it scraped past Iceland, 2.5-1.5, in the 10th and penultimate round of the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad at the Bok Sports Hall here Saturday.
Woman Janelle Mae Frayna and rookie revelation Ruelle Canino delivered the victories—with the former using the Alekhine Defense in edging Woman FIDE Master Hallgerdur Thorsteindottir in 56 moves at board two and the latter quashing Gudrun Fanney Briem’s King’s Indian in 31 moves at board four—that propelled the Filipinas to a share of 36th spot with 12 match points.
Woman International Master Jan Jodilyn Fronda survived Idunn Helgadottir with a marathon 71-move draw in a Sicilian clash at board three to help seal the win for the country, which is hoping to eclipse its 39th-place finish in Chennai, India in 2022.
The lone casualty for the Filipinas, whose trip is bankrolled by the Philippine Sports Commission and backed by NCFP chief Butch Pichay, was WFM Shania Mae Mendoza, who fell to WGM Lenka Ptacnikova in 66 moves of a Four Knights Game at board one.
They will clash with Brazil in the final round.
Of all, Canino, 16, has gained the most in terms of rating as she raked in 88.4 whopping rating points after scoring five points on four wins, which included two over WGMs, and two draws against a lone defeat.
The country’s men’s team stumbled to Georgia, 2.5-1.5, and into a group at No. 39 with 12 points each.
GM Julio Catalino Sadorra, GM-elect Daniel Quizon and IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia split the points with GMs Mikheil Mchedlishvili, Nikolozi Kacharava and Levan Pantsulala at boards one, two and four, respectively.
The Filipinos’ lone defeat came on board three where IM Paulo Bersamina succumbed to GM Luka Paichadze in 43 moves of a Sicilian.
There were so many chances for the country to either snatch the match win or draw but just couldn’t cash in on it.
Sadorra had a superior position when he agreed to a 22-move deadlock with Mchedlishvili via repetition.
Nonetheless, Sadorra has remained unbeaten with 6.5 points out of eight and could snatch an individual medal at board one if he wins over super GM Adam Kozak of Hungary’s second of three teams in the last round.
