Chinese overpower Filipinos
in 37th Chess Olympiad

TURIN, Italy - After a fling with glory, it’s back to harsh reality for the Philippine men’s team in the 37th Chess Olympiad. Only Grandmaster Rogelio Antonio Jr. was able to stop the Chinese juggernaut on Monday as the Filipinos absorbed a 3.5-0.5 beating in round 8 at the Olympic Village here. The Filipinas, on the other hand, held the Iranians to a draw, 1.5-1.5, after Woman International Master-elect Sheerie Joy Lomibao bested WIM Atousa Pourkashiyan on Board 1. FIDE Master Oliver Dimakiling, reigning national champion Darwin Laylo, and Grandmaster Mark Paragua yielded to higher rated opponents in succession as the Filipinos tumbled to a share of 36th to 41st places. The 25-year-old Dimakiling bowed to GM Yue Wang after 44 moves of a Trompovsky Opening on Board 4, while Laylo overlooked a bishop sacrifice by GM Pengxhinag Zhang and surrendered after 43 moves of a Center Counter. With his two buddies down, Paragua went for the win and paid the price as GM Xiangzhi Bu outmaneuvered him after 59 moves of a Slav Defense. Antonio, on the other hand, missed the winning move and settled for a draw with GM Zhong Zhang in 63 moves of a Ruy Lopez. “Forget about the loss and focus on the next match," National Chess Federation of the Philippines president and Surigao del Sur Representative Prospero “Butch" Pichay told the players during a pep talk. They really have to as they face another heavyweight, 15th-ranked and all-GM Romania, in Round 9 Tuesday. Against the 15th-ranked Romania, men’s team captain Sammy Estimo will be fielding Paragua, GM Eugene Torre on Board 2, Antonio and whiz kid FM Wesley So on Board 4. “The Romanians are strong on all boards," said Estimo. “We have to be very careful." The 22-year-old Paragua will be pitted against GM Livin Dieter Nisipeanu (ELO 2695), Torre against Andrei Istratescu (2621), Antonio against Vladislav Nevednichy (2582), and the 12-year-old So against Levente Vajda (2511). Women’s team captain Cesar Caturla will be using Lomibao and Catherine Perena, who drew her Round 8 match against WGM Shadi Paridar, and WIM Beverly Mendoza. Olympiad rookie Sherily Cua was rested following her Board 3 defeat to WFM Shirin Narabi. Lomibao faces WFM Zehra Topel, Perena meets Kubra Oztusk, and WIM Corlulu, Nilufer Cinar. Armenia routed Cuba, 3-1, to pull away from top favorite Russia and Ukraine in the men’s division. The Armenians have 24 points against the Russians’ and Ukrainians’ 22. China jumped to 21.5 points in the company of Georgia, France, and the United States. On the distaff side, Russia showed the way with 19 points, towing along Ukraine (18.5), reigning titlist China (17), and the United States. - INQ7.Net