RP chessers nip Argentines but finish 46th

DRESDEN, Germany – GM Jayson Gonzales outduelled GM Fernando Peralta in 46 moves of a Queen’s Gambit Declined as the Philippines closed out with a 2.5-1.5 win over Argentina to finish 46th in the World Chess Olympiad here Tuesday.

GMs Wesley So, John Paul Gomez and Darwin Laylo all drew their respective matches with Gonzales providing the marginal point with his brilliant win that gave the Philippines a 13-point total after 11 rounds.

So halved the point with GM Rubel Felgaer in 30 moves of the Sicilian, so did Gomez against IM Anton Kovalyov in 40 moves of another Queen’s Gambit while Laylo drew with IM Diego Flores in 34 moves of the English Opening.

The RP bets actually finished tied for 29th but wound up in 46th place after the tiebreak, two rungs lower than the finish of the 2006 team in Turin, Italy.

Still, it was a good performance for the youth-laden team, led by the 15-year-old So and the 22-year-old Gomez, who clinched the GM title in the ninth round.

“The boys deserved to be congratulated for their efforts. They did their best and competed with pride against the world’s best chess-playing countries,” said National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) president Prospero “Butch” Pichay.

In women’s play, the Philippines crushed Mexico, 4-0, to finish tied for 36th with 12 points. Catherine Perena, Shercila Cua, Daisy Rivera and Cheradee Charidne Camacho demolished their respective rivals to complete the final day rout.

Meanwhile, defending champion Armenia made it two in a row in the men’s division, while Georgia regained the women’s crown.

Armenia brought down China, 2.5-1.5, to finish with 19 points, one ahead of Israel while Georgia beat Serbia, 3-1, to capture the ladies plum with 18 points, one better than the US, Russia and Poland.