RP chess team bounces back, whips Mongolia

Grandmaster Eugene Torre’s skillful endgame maneuvers powered the Philippine team to a 3-1 whipping of Mongolia in the eighth round of the 34th World Chess Olympiad in Istanbul.

Torre, bouncing back from his loss to GM Vassily Ivanchuk of Ukraine the other day, baffled GM Bazar Hatanbaantar with a kingside pawn storm in dishing out a 79-move victory in their French Defense game.

This helped the Filipinos recover from their 0.5-3.5 setback to Ukraine as the RP team climbed to 19th from 24th spot in a tie with Georgia, Spain, Kazakhstan, India and Estonia with 21.5 points apiece.

Also delivering for the Philippines were GM Joey Antonio and FIDE Master Ildefonso Datu.

Datu defeated Duurenbayar Erhembayar in 40 moves of an English Opening. Antonio was two pawns up when he put away Dashzeveg Sharavdorj in 65 moves of a French Defense.

Reigning Asian Intercollegiate champion Odoondoo Ganbold frustrated GM Bong Villamayor in just 21 moves of a French Defense.

But the day belonged to Ukraine, Armenia and Bulgaria as they posted wins which shook up the men’s division standings.

Sixteen-year old GM Russian Ponomariov took 74 moves of a French Defense to put away Robert Huebner and power Ukraine past erstwhile solo leader Germany, 2.5-1.5.

This allowed Armenia to gain a share of the top spot with 25 points as it scored a near shutout over Spain, 3.5-0.5 Ukraine moved half a point behind Germany and Armenia with 24.5 points.

The RP women’s team, starring Christine Espallardo in the third board, pummeled Mexico, 2-1. Espallardo won over Edith Garcia in 36 moves of a Reti Opening while teammates Beverly Mendoza and Leah Bernardo settled for draws in the upper boards.

Mendoza halved her point with Yadiva Fernandez in 80 moves of a Pirc while Bernardo split her point with Alejandra Guerrero in 71 moves of a French Defense.

Defending champion China drew with Russia, 1.5-all, in the women’s action to stay ahead of a Georgia with 21 points.

Zhu Chen kept the Chinese on top as she neutralized Alisa Galliamova in 54 moves of a King’s Indian Defense.