RP faces all-GM Dutch in vital tiff

The Philippines faces probably its toughest test in its quest for a Top 10 finish in this year’s World Chess Olympiad as it plays eighth-ranked the Netherlands in a crucial 11th round match that could make or break the Filipinos’ bid in Turin, Italy.

Team skipper Sammy Estimo said the other day that his wards need to score eight points in the last three rounds to be able to crash into the Top 10. But with their last three matches expected to be against top-notch teams, the gritty Filipinos will have to outdo themselves, plus draw some luck, to achieve their goal.

With 24 points, the Philippines, whose best finish in the biennial event was seventh during the 1988 edition in Thessaloniki, Greece, shares 17th place with Germany, Spain, Iran, Greece, Poland and the Netherlands.

Against the Dutch, the RP bets will be facing not only an all-GM squad, but also a team coming off an emphatic 3-1 rout of Indonesia. Though the Filipinos will likewise come into the match oozing with confidence following its 3.5-0.5 rout of Malaysia, they will have to contend with a team teeming with talent.

In fact, the Netherlands boasts of three GMs with over 2600 ratings, including Ivan Sokolov, Sergey Tiviakov and Loek Van Wely. Its board 4 player, GM Friso Nijboer, totes a 2584 rating, higher than RP’s board 2 player, GM Eugene Torre (2543.)

But GMs Mark Paragua, Joey Antonio and Torre and untitled Darwin Laylo hope to spring a surprise against the Dutch although a draw may well worth a victory for a team ranked 35th in a field of 146.

Focus will also be on Antonio, the best performer so far with six points in eight games, highlighted by four wins and four draws, including one that saved RP from a shutout loss to China in round 8.

Armenia shows the way in men’s play with 29 points, followed by China with 27 and Russia and Czech Republic, which both have 26.5 points.

Armenia battles Czech Republic, China takes on France, the US plays Russia, and Uzbekistan clashes with Cuba in the featured 11th round matches.

Meanwhile, the RP ladies squad, bannered by Sheerie Joy Lomibao, Catherine Perena and Sherily Cua, likewise tries to sustain its 3-0 rout of Albania and keep its bid for a top 15 finish going as it takes on Lithuania, ranked 13th, Friday.

The Philippines has a 17.5 total in a tie with Lithuania, Germany, Belarus, Vietnam, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Ecuador and Sweden. — Dante Navarro

Ukraine is on top of the women’s division with 23 points while Russia pooled 22.5 points for second while China is in third with 20.5 points.