CHESS- 44th World Chess Olympiad | CHENNAI, India- Philippines back in contention in Chess Olympiad

MANILA, Philippines — Grandmasters Banjo Barcenilla, John Paul Gomez and Darwin Laylo were at their best as the Philippines smashed Cyprus, 3-1, Monday night to keep its bid for 44th World Chess Olympiad glory alive in Chennai, India.

Barcenilla, Gomez and Laylo essayed impressive wins over Alexandros Isaakidis, Ioannis Damianou and Michalis Florentiades on boards two to four, respectively, that made up for GM Mark Paragua’s stinging defeat to FIDE Master Konstantinos Michaelides on top board.

It was a win that catapulted the Filipinos, backed by the Philippine Sports Commission, back into contention as they zoomed to a 63-way logjam at 26th place with four match points to show.

The Eugene Torre-coached squad, seeded 52nd, could barge into the top 20 if it could overcome 89th seed Monaco in the fourth round at press time.

It was heartbreaking for the women’s team, which appeared headed to a shock 2-2 draw with 18th seed Serbia only to watch WFM Shania Mae Mendoza blow a drawn position and lose to WIM Adela Velikic on board three.

WGM Janelle Mae Frayna and WIMs Jan Jodilyn Fronda and Kylen Joy Mordido all drew their games on boards one, two and four.

The Filipinas bowed in the end, 2.5-1.5.

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