Filipinos succumb to Chinese GMs

GM Joey Antonio failed to eke out a victory over GM Zhang Zhong and settled for a draw for the Philippines’ lo ne point against a fired-up Chinese squad, whose emphatic 3.5-0.5 victory put it in the elite group while sending the Filipinos crashing back to 35th place after eighth rounds of the World Chess Olympiad in Turin, Italy Monday.

GM Mark Paragua, whose impressive 22-move victory over GM Hannes Stefansson Sunday sparked hopes of a big surge by the highest-rated Filipino chesser, flinched when ranged against GM Bu Xiangzhi, who masterfully steered his white pieces to victory in 59 moves of a Slav encounter.

Darwin Laylo and Oliver Dimakiling, who helped power RP to a 3.5-0.5 win over fancied Iceland in the seventh round, also lost their matches to GMs Zhang Pengxiang (43-Center Center) and Wang Yue (44-Veresov Opening), respectively, as the Philippines fell with a thud after moving up to a high joint 14th place Sunday.

As his teammates fell one after the other, Antonio, playing white, tried to squeeze out a victory but just couldn’t shake off Zhong, who forced the truce after 63 moves of their Ruy Lopez game.

With the loss, the Philippines reeled back to joint 35th with 18.5 points in the company of Poland, England, Mexico, Estonia and ninth round opponent 15th-seeded all-GM Romania squad, which thumped Tunisia, 3-1.

The 12th-ranked China, on the other hand, hiked its output to 21.5 points to gain a share of fourth place alongside France, the United States and Georgia.

Armenia built a two-point lead over Russia as it trampled Cuba, 3-1, to pool a 24-point aggregate. The Russian were held to a draw with the Czech Republic, enabling Ukraine to gain a share of second with 22 points after rapping Sweden, 3-1.

In the distaff side, WFM Sheerie Joy Lomibao defeated Atousa Pourkashiyan on the top board as the RP ladies salvaged a 1.5-1.5 draw with Iran. Catherine Perena halved the point with WGM Shadi Paridas while Sherily Cua dropped her match with Shirin Navabi on board 3.

The Filipinas now have 13 points for a share of 36th place with Iran, Turkmenistan, Switzerland, Sweden and Turkey, their ninth round opponent.

Russia continued to pace the ladies division with 19 points, half-a-point ahead of Ukraine, which crushed Hungary, 2-1, for 18.5 points.

Defending champion China bounced back with a 3-0 rout of Latvia to catch the United States at third place with 17 points.