RP chess teams shut out rivals

BLED, Slovenia – The Philippines swept their opening round assignments in both the men’s and women’s divisions in the 35th World Chess Olympiad Saturday in this quiet, idyllic land that became an independent state after the breakup of Yugoslavia.

The Filipinos scored a 4-0 win over Jersey, the other part of what used to be a unified Guernsey and Jersey, an island in the British Channel between England and France.

The two states, whose inhabitants include a large number of Filipino workers, applied for two slots in the Olympiad and were granted to play under separate flags.

Grandmaster Eugene Torre, playing black on Board one, disposed of John Fullton in 43 moves of a London System to cap the Filipinos’ whitewash of Jersey.

International Master Mark Paragua, playing white, kicked off the RP campaign with a swift demolition of Graham Boxall in 17 moves of a Pirc Defense.

GM Joey Antonio, also plying white, defeated Jonathan Hanes in 48 moves of a French defense.

On Board 3, GM Bong Villamayor subdued M. Simmons in 36 moves of another French Defense.

The shutout win placed the Filipinos among the early leaders in the 135-nation tournament.

They will next face the fancied but aging United States team, beefed up by former Russian grandmasters, in the second round of the two-week, 14-round Swiss system tournament.

Meanwhile, the Filipinas made short work of Brunei.

Woman IM Arianne Caoili outclassed Dok Qalila Mahomar in 29 moves of a London System.

WIM Beverly Mendoza tripped Farah Aliyah Zasinal in 37 moves of a Guioco Piano while Sheerie Joy Lomibao blitzed Leong Wei Zhen in 16 moves of a Bishop’s Opening.

The women chessers clash with Armenia in the second round.